William Ridley Banks III, 66, Dale Borough, Johnstown, died early Sunday morning at Memorial Medical Center, Johnstown, after a tough battle with cancer.
He was born in Huntingdon, son of Eleanor Z. Banks and the late William R. Banks Jr.
Surviving are his mother; two daughters: Tricia Nolan and husband, Christopher, and Jenna Vamos and husband, Robert; six grandchildren: Emily, Shane and Karalyn Nolan and Jessica, Morgan and Nathan Vamos; a sister, Elaine Braziel and husband, Jeff, of Concord, N.C., and Elaine's son, Patrick Enzor and family in South Carolina; and a sister-in-law, Cindy George and husband, Billy, of Hedgesville, W.Va., and Cindy's son, Scott Yocum and family in Maryland.
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His wife of 39 years, Trudy, preceded him in death in June 2008.
Ridley graduated from Huntingdon Area High School in 1963 and Juniata College in 1968. He retired from the Department of Public Welfare at Somerset State Hospital and the Altoona Center. Along with his wife, Trudy, he chaperoned many trips abroad with Trudy's Portage area students. Together, they also hosted and placed more than 20 foreign exchange students. He was also the church secretary for many years at the former First Evangelical Congregational Church, where he was a member.
Believing in public service, Ridley had also served as a member of Ferndale Area School Board of Directors for 12 years with 10 years as president. He also served as a member of the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center's Joint Operating Committee, Intermediate Unit 8 board and several Pennsylvania School Boards Association appointments.
Ridley enjoyed taking photos of his family and local students participating in school activities as well as talking to friends and family and helping out others in any way he could. Anyone who knew him knew that he loved all Pittsburgh professional sports teams but most dearly the Pittsburgh Pirates, in good and bad seasons. He faithfully went to spring training in Florida, including this past spring.
He was an excellent father and pappy and was a friend to many. He will be sadly missed by his family and all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, at John Henderson Co. Funeral Home, 215 Central Ave., Johnstown.
A viewing will also be held from noon until the 1:30 p.m. funeral service Friday, Aug. 17, 2012, at John B. Brown Funeral Home, 417 Washington St., Huntingdon, officiated by the Rev. Willie Williams. Interment will be at Riverview Cemetery after the service in Huntingdon.
Monetary donations to the Dale Thomas family would be welcomed as Ridley was a friend of Dale Thomas, who has recently sustained a serious life-altering injury that has impacted the Thomas family. Donations may be made directly to Dale Thomas c/o Kelly Thomas, 927 Nathaniel St., Johnstown, PA 15902.
