Sharon Irene Banister

Sharon Banister 66, of Ladonia, passed away at her home on Sunday, October 19, 2014.

Sharon was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 16, 1948, to Irene Venz Geibel and Roswell Geibel, she graduated from Ironton (Ohio) High School in 1966. She received her B.A. in Mass Communication from Abilene Christian University in 1970. In August of 1971 Sharon married the love of her life John H Banister, she began her journalistic journey by writing obituaries for The Abilene Reporter News.

She edited two books, wrote and published one, and wrote a weekly newspaper column with her husband for almost a decade.

Her military career began in the U.S Army Reserves. She Accompanied her U.S. Air Force husband on his worldwide tours. In England she commanded the only U.S. Army Reserve unit in that country and traveled regularly to Germany. She retired as a lieutenant colonel.

While living in England she was a member of a singing group that was featured in a BBC TV documentary.

She and her husband created the Wild Rose Ranch in Ladonia upon his retirement and raised beef cattle and native pecans for over 20 years.

She was a bassoonist with the Fannin County Community Band for many years and also played in the Paris Municipal Band. She was a member of Pecan Grove Church of Christ in Greenville and the Town & Country Garden Club of Cooper.

Survivors include her husband John, their daughter Dr. Bethany Rose Rainsberg, her son-in-law Clayton and their two young children, James and Catherine Irene Rainsberg of Columbus Ohio, and their daughter Hannah Kate Banister of Ladonia.

In lieu of usual remembrances the family requests that donations be sent to Texas Best Choices Animal Rescue, 2502 Red Bud Trail, Quinlan Texas, 75474, or Bat World, 217 North Oak Ave. Mineral Wells, Texas, 76067, or Ladonia Shelter Dogs, 2 S. Plaza, Ladonia, Texas, 75449.

Graveside services with Military Honors will be conducted on Wednesday, October 22, 2014, at 1:00 P.M at Wild Rose Ranch, 1247 FM 64, Ladonia, Texas 75449, with John Shasteen officiating.