Arvall Bankston

West Lebanon – Arvall “Banks” Bankston, 74, of West Lebanon, NY, went home to be with the Lord on March 24, 2012, surrounded by family and friends at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA, after battling five years of health issues.
Born in Haiti, MO, on November 26, 1937, to the late Edmond Bankston and Eddie Lou Cozart, Banks leaves behind his loving wife Cathy Hursa Bankston, whom he married in 2000 after many years of friendship.
After leaving Missouri he relocated in Chicago in 1957 then moved with his family to West Lebanon, NY. He worked for 38 years at the Berkshire Farm Center for Youth in Canaan, NY, where his compassion for troubled children extended beyond the facility. He retired in 2002. He was called a Good Samaritan, a Leader, an Advocate for many. He participated in an alcohol and drug abuse program in Pittsfield and transported and supported and opened his heart to help people everywhere he went.
Besides his wife Cathy, he is survived by his loving daughter, Laurie Bankston-Stroud and her husband Ray Stroud of Troy, NY, his grandchildren, Shamyra Bankston Watters of New Jersey, Sarita Bankston of Vermont, Justin Bankston of Connecticut, Ashiya Stroud of Troy, Ashley Bankston of West Lebanon and Paige Stroud of Troy. He is also survived by the mother of his grandchildren Ashley and Justin, Bonnie Lee, his brothers-in-law Peter Hursa and his wife MaryBeth of Malden Bridge, NY, and Michael Hursa and his wife Linda of Stephentown, NY, along with six great-grandchildren. The most recent apple of his eye was his great-grandson, Alijah Arvall Frazier, who resided part time with his “Poppie” in West Lebanon. He is also survived by his sister, Edna Jones and her husband Joseph of St. Louis, MO, and several nephews.
He is pre-deceased by his son, Arvall Bankston Jr., who died on August 30, 2011, and by his brother, Edmond Bankston, Jr. of Chicago, IL. He is also pre-deceased by his loving canine pal, Asia, who left his side a few weeks ago.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 31, at 2 pm in the Tabernacle Baptist Church, 895 W. Housatonic Street, Pittsfield. Burial will follow in the Flat Brook Baptist Cemetery, Route 22, Canaan, NY.
Relatives and friends are invited to the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, 457 NY 43, Stephentown, on Friday from 4 to 7 pm for visitation.
To remember Banks in a special way, contributions in his memory may be made to the “Friends of Renal Dialysis” in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 9, Stephentown, NY, 12168.