Charles Edward Banks

Charles Edward Banks, 75 - A lifelong resident of St. Petersburg passed away on July 20, 2015 at Tampa General Hospital after a courageous battle with heart failure. Charlie was born at Mound Park Hospital in St. Petersburg and took great pride in being a St. Petersburg native. He was a 1957 graduate of St. Petersburg High School and earned his degree from St. Petersburg Junior College. Charlie joined the family business, Banks Supply Company, which began as Banks Metal and Auto Parts in south St. Petersburg in the late 1920's. Charlie eventually became President of Banks Supply Company. Under his successful leadership, the business was transformed into a wholesale distributor of utility and irrigation supplies and expanded with branches in Tampa, New Port Richey, Sarasota, Oldsmar and Orlando. In 1989 the business was sold and Charlie retired at age 50. Charlie enjoyed his retirement lifestyle, getting to spend time with friends and family doing the things he loved; fishing, maintaining his beautiful yard and especially honing his golf game where he spent several days a week at the Vinoy Golf Club. Charlie is preceded in death by his parents, Mary Elizabeth and J. Ralph Banks, his wife Phoebe Ann Banks and his brother Wesley Banks. He is survived by his wife of 25 years Judy Banks; three daughters, MaryAlice Paul (Chris) of Dallas, TX, Erin Sekas (John) of St. Petersburg and Robin Shonnard (Horatio) of Ft. Myers; step-children: Leann Corey (David) of Tampa and Stuart Sanderson of St. Petersburg; sister, Mary Lee Batchelor (Dick) of New Port Richey, brother, Robert Banks (Barbara) of St. Petersburg; sister-in-law, Barbara Banks and his nine grandchildren, Phoebe Biddison Himmel (Nate), Sean Sekas, Grant Biddison, Nick Sekas, Luke Corey, Sydney Corey, Parker Sanderson, Charlee Biddison and Emory Sanderson, as well as several nieces and nephews. A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held Saturday, August 1, 2015 at the Sunset Ball Room at the Vinoy Golf Club, 600 Snell Isle Blvd. N.E., St. Petersburg, at 1:30 P.M. Considering Charlie's love for the game of golf, as well as the Tampa Bay waterways he fished, donations can be made in his memory to: The First Tee of St. Petersburg - P.O. Box 55913, St. Petersburg, FL 33732 (www.thefirstteestpetersburg.org) Tampa Bay Watch, Inc. 3000 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde, FL 33715 (www.tampabaywatch.org).