Velma M. Banks

Velma M. Banks, 89,long time Mexico resident, died July 27, 2010 at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Charles.

Celebration of life services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010, at Pickering Funeral Home with Rev. Ben Schnipper officiating.Visitation will beSaturday, from6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Laddonia Cemetery.

Velma was born on August 21, 1920, daughter of Harvey and Alice (Stuart) Knipfel. She was preceded in death by her husband,William E. Banks and herdaughter, Sharon F. Walker.

Velma loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She is survived by two sons, John W. of Ceres, Calif., and Alva D. (Lee) of Florissant, Mo.; one sister, Nadine Bentley (Ray) of Hollister, Mo.; four granddaughters, Christina Crump (Don) and Tina Walker of St. Charles, Joanna Serrano (Gil) of Modesto, Calif., and Alyssa Walter (Keith) of Florissant; four great grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.

Velma lovedher friends at the Senior Center, at the First Baptist Church, andat Parkside MeadowsRetirement Center where she was not a stranger to the residents orstaff. She loved to play cards, go on trips with the church and on the OATS bus. She loved the baseball Cardinals andgoing to the ballpark.

She loved her flowers and was a memberof the Nature's Garden Club since 1974. She was a member of the First Baptist Church since 1950 and acted in such roles as church historian and helped in the library. Velma volunteered at the church, the hospital, and the senior center.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the First Baptist Church or to the Mexico Senior Center. They may be sent in care of Pickering Funeral Home, 403 N. Western, Mexico, MO 65265.