William "Leroy" Banks, Sr

William "Leroy" Banks, Sr., 81, passed away Saturday, April 8th surrounded by his loving family at his home in Eden.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, April 11th, 2:00pm in the Fair Funeral Home Chapel.  The family will have a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Frith Family Cemetery (Overlook).

Leroy was born December 21, 1941 in Stuart, VA to the late Elroy William Banks and Vergie Mae Puckett Banks.  Leroy owned and operated Banks Repair Service for 30 years installing HVAC  Systems.  He was a member of First Wesleyan Church of Eden where he served as a former board member, trustee, and sound technician.  He was the church handyman for 30 plus years.

Leroy was a talented man that enjoyed woodworking in his shop crafting various instruments and furniture.  He was a musician that loved singing country gospel and playing guitar, banjo, mandolin, and the dulcimer.  He also taught his grandkids how to play various instruments and they shared his love of music, especially Ashlyn and Teegan, who would accompany him to play at local nursing homes. Leroy loved spreading the gospel through his music by providing free CD’s in the local community. He loved spending his time on the weekends at the race track supporting his son who builds LM Stock Engines for NASCAR.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 54 years,  Shirley Frith Banks; a son, Billy Banks, Jr (Kim) of Stoneville,  daughter, Julie Banks Tuttle (Mark) of Stoneville; grandchildren, Tripp Banks (Brandi), Tanner Banks (Parker), Teegan Banks, Ashlyn Tuttle Hyman (Cole), Dylan Tuttle, great grandchildren, Banks Hyman and Nola James Banks; sister- in- law Audrey Banks

Along with his parents he is preceded in death by his brothers, Eugene, Carl Lee, and Roland Banks; sister, Lillie Mae Wheeler.

In lieu of flowers donations may be given to First Wesleyan Church at 607 Church Street, Eden, NC 27288 or Hospice of Rockingham County, PO Box 281, Wentworth, NC  27375.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com