Edward Mack Banta

Graveside services for Edward Mack Banta, 88, of Nacogdoches will be 1:00 pm Thursday, March 4, 2021 at McKnight Cemetery in Cushing. Edward Mack Banta passed away February 28, 2021 in Nacogdoches. He was born January 21, 1933 to Charles Oliver and Edna Miller Banta in Baytown, Texas. He was a good father, brother, son and Aggies fan! He was a devoted husband to the love of his life Josie Delia (Rawlinson) Banta. They were married almost 30 years to the day. As a child, he and his twin brother sold newspapers--"Baytown Sun"--to passersby on their way to work in the plants; this money was used to help support their mother. Through his tenacity and hard work, he achieved the rank of "Eagle Scout." He was awarded a scholarship to Texas A&M University. While there, he worked in the mess hall to pay for room and board. His hard work paid off. He earned his degrees from his alma mater. He later became a research scientist working for Bayer. He lived in Baytown for the majority of his life and finally moved to Nacogdoches where he has lived for the past 20 years. He once said, "without the Salvation Army, we wouldn't have made it." He was devout Baptist that was known for his charitable works born out of experiences. He loved the Lord and exemplified what is means to be a Christian. He is survived by his children, Susan Banta Peterson of Houston, Bruce Edward Banta (and husband Oscar Banta-Guevara) also of Houston; step children, Julia Marie Beaver (and husband David Wayne Beaver) of Spring, Paul Vincent LeBlanc (and Rachel Annette LeBlanc) of Nacogdoches; his twin brother, Dr. Charles Jack Banta of New Orleans; grandchildren, Jennifer Peterson Wroe (and husband William Walker Wroe), and John Owen Peterson, Jr. (and wife Elizabeth Vanegas Peterson); step grandchildren, Samuel Vincent LeBlanc (and wife Brittany Leann LeBlanc), Gabriel Ayden LeBlanc, and Abigail Faith LeBlanc; great grandchild, Sophie Hazel Wroe; and, step great grandchildren, Amelia Pearl LeBlanc and Chaylee Ann Moreland LeBlanc.

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