Ronald Hoyt Banks

1943 - 2018

Ronald Hoyt Banks, 74, of Panama City, passed away Thursday, July 19, 2018.

Ronald was born at home in Millville on Aug. 3, 1943, to Hoyt E. and Kate Banks and was one of 10 brothers and sisters. He attended Bay High School in Panama City through the 11th grade before joining the United States Air Force, where he became an electrician. He married Janet Henigin in 1962, and together they had two sons, Ronald James (Jimmy) and Michael Dennis. In the early years of their marriage, the family lived in Santa Maria, Calif., where Ronald was stationed at Vandenburg Air Force Base. Janet and the boys stayed there while Ronald served a tour of duty in Thailand during the Vietnam War, where he was stationed at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base. As an electrical lineman there, he was often up on the power lines doing repairs during dangerous combat conditions. In 1967, he moved the family back home to Panama City to be near relatives while he was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Pensacola. For a year, he started every week hitchhiking to Pensacola and ended every week hitchhiking back home to Panama City. In 1968, he retired from the Air Force and began working as an electrician in Panama City.

After 20 years of marriage, Ronald and Janet divorced. He married Linda Stallings in 1984 and welcomed her three sons as his own.

Ronald was preceded in death by his parents, Hoyt and Kate, his first wife Janet Banks, his son Jimmy Banks, his sister Mary Catherine Harp Gallante, and his brother Elbert E. Banks.

He is survived by his son, Michael Banks (Debbie,) of Panama City, granddaughters Christina Barrera (Andrew,) Amanda Banks, Jessica Banks, and Kimberly Banks, and his great-grandchildren, Matthew and Allison Barrera. He is also survived by three sisters, Margie Freeman (Joe,) and Frances Nelson (Raymond,) of Panama City, and Sue Sommer of Ocean Springs, Miss; four brothers, Michael Banks, of Lynn Haven, Johnny Banks (Cindy) of Sunny Hills, Morris Banks, of Jupiter, and Frank Banks, of Marianna; his wife, Linda Banks, and step-sons, Danny, Bobby, and Randy Stallings.

He was the family protector, the arbiter of justice, and the peacemaker. He was the original Superman.