Kinder-Funeral service for Walter "Sam" Bankester, 94, will be held at Reeves Bible Church on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, at 10 a.m. Dr. Joe Savoie will officiate. Burial will follow in LeBlanc Cemetery under the direction of Ardoin Funeral Home of Kinder.
The family will receive visitors at Reeves Bible Church on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 from 5-10 p.m. and will resume on Wednesday morning from 8 a.m. until time of service.
Sam was a loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great-great grandfather. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Delores, for 66 years prior to her passing in 2014. He served in the United States Army during WWII and was very proud of his service to our country. He was a lifelong member of Reeves Bible Church. Sam loved to fish, garden, and cut wood. He also loved reading Louis Lamar western books. He worked very hard to provide for his family and was a devoted father of ten children which included three sets of twins. Sam will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
Those left to cherish Sam's memory include his four sons, Rev. Travis Bankester and wife, Nancy, Harry Bankester and wife, Linda, James Bankester and wife, Brenda, and Mark Bankester and wife, Stephanie; two daughters, Rita Byerly and husband, Eddie, and Angela Barrett and husband, Don; 26 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.
Sam is preceded in death by his parents, Warren and Basheba Bankester; his wife, Dolores Bankester; two sons, Wayne Davis and Terry Lynn; two daughters, Janis Ruth and Iris Mae; one granddaughter, Elizabeth Bankester; and one great granddaughter, Kristina Rae Barrett.
Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.ardoinfuneralhome.com.