Lowell Banks
Lowell Banks was raised in Hartland, New Brunswick, Canada, died JUne 10, 2015. In the summertime he swam and fished in the St. John River. He played basketball for Hartland High School, only so the school would have enough boys to make a team. Ice hockey was his game and he was a proficient skater all his life. In the fall, he worked pulling potatoes and picking strawberries. In the winter he serviced his two paper routes on skis. It was a life worthy of a Disney movie. However, his father, Garrett, had had enough snow and the family immigrated to El Cerrito California, where his wife, Anna, had a sister. Lowell, attended El Cerrito High School where he met his future wife, Eunice Turner. In the fall of 1950, he enrolled at Cogswell Polytechnic College in San Francisco. With the advent of the Korean Conflict, he returned to Canada to join to the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving as Radar Technician with the Air Search Rescue Squadron in Greenwood, Nova Scotia. He was member of Princess Elizabeth's Honor Guard during her visit to Canada. Following discharge from the Air Force, Lowell resumed his education at Cogswell Polytechnical College graduating with a degree in Electronics Engineering. He and Eunice married and Lowell took a job with California Research in Richmond California. Eight years and two children later, Lowell, and his family, had the opportunity to transfer to Aramco (Arabian American Oil Company) in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where they soon added a third son to the family. Lowell managed a multi-cultural workforce maintaining telecommunication equipment for Aramco, which included communications for King Saud during his visits Dhahran Working in Saudi Arabia allowed the family the opportunity to visit in Europe, the Middle and Far East, Australia and New Zealand. Eunice and their three sons were evacuated during the 1967 Israeli/Arab war and Lowell stayed on. It was a year before the family was reunited. Returning to California, Lowell joined Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), and as Superintendent of Communications was instrumental in preparing the communication systems to be used by BART. After 18 years as Manager of Component Repair he retired to Sierra City California. In retirement, Lowell and Eunice traveled extensively. Ever willing to take on a challenge.
Lowell served on the Sierra County School Board, Western Medical Clinic, and Western Sierra Residential Center and was active in the Downieville Lyons Club. He helped run three electric power plants, which afforded him the opportunity to fly-fish the Yuba River.
In 2003, Lowell and Eunice moved to Eskaton Village, Grass Valley. Continuing his dedication to service, Lowell joined the Cousin Jacks Lions Club and was Treasurer for the Nevada County Chapter of Health Care for All. Lowell Banks is survived by his wife, Eunice, three sons, Bruce, Steve and Gary, daughters-in law Debra and Kathryn, a grandson, James and his wife Andrea and granddaughter, Jessica, all in Northern California. He is also survived by his sister Pat, nieces Beth and Leslie and a nephew Rob, all of Bangor, Maine A Celebration of Lowell Banks' life will be held at Eskaton Village Lodge, Grass Valley on June 27th at 10:00 a.m. Private Interment will be in Sierra City. In appreciation for Lowell's life of service, a donation to any area food bank or animal shelter will be gratefully acknowledged.