James A. Banker

James A. Banker, Sr., 90, of Bedford, NH died peacefully July 8, 2009 at Catholic Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Lisbon, CT on February 26, 1919, the son of the late Michael and Ethel (Sullivan) Banker. He was raised and educated in Westerly, RI. Mr. Banker graduated from Westerly High School and attended courses at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA . During World War II, he served as a Technical Sergeant in the US Army, and also played the trombone in the Army Band. During his career as an electronics engineer, he worked at Underwater Sound Lab in New London, CT doing government work, and at Electric Boat in Groton, CT. He also had his own business, "Jimmy's Repair Service," repairing television sets in his home. In 1954, he moved his family to Manchester, NH to work at Granite State Machine Co., where he was employed for over 25 years. He and his wife, Carolyn, managed Rent-A-Space in Manchester, NH during the 1980s. After retiring, he worked at Transmissions Plus for his son Robert. He enjoyed camping, boating, and fishing with his family. In his later years, he enjoyed working with his computer. He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Carolyn (Barber) Banker, who died July 15, 2005. In his life: Family includes daughters, Barbara Bournival and her husband Paul of Bedford, NH (with whom he lived), Carol Powell of San Diego, CA, Patricia Berger and her husband Russ of Fawnskin, CA, and Donna Kittle and her husband John of Nashua, NH; sons James Banker, Jr. and his wife Diana of Pownal, ME, and Robert Banker and his wife Cheryl of Manchester, NH; 13 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, a sister, Louise Rustici, and a niece, both of Reno, NV. He will be sadly missed by them all. His memorial gathering will take place at Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover Street, Manchester, NH on Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM with a Memorial Service to follow in the Funeral Home Chapel at 10:00AM. Urn burial will take place in the Chapel at New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen at 12:00PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Breathe NH, 9 Cedarwood Drive, Unit #12, Bedford, NH 03110 or to the American Cancer Society, 2 Commerce Drive, #110, Bedford, NH 03110.