Doreen Ruth “Ruthie” Banes, 95, passed away peacefully on Thursday evening, July 9, 2020 at Rosewalk Village in Lafayette.
She was born on June 19, 1925 to Frederick and Gertrude Gear in Sherborne, Dorset, England. Delivered by a midwife, she was the fifth of six children and the only girl in the family. Being the only girl worked to her advantage, as she got her brothers to do her math homework and cover for her during various escapades as she grew up.
She attended Sherborne Abbey grade school and at the age of 11 received a scholarship to attend the Lord Digby School for Girls as a day student. As it was during World War II, she often recalled the air raid drills they had at school and the rude noises the girls learned to make with their gas masks. Doreen always loved to have fun!
After graduation, Doreen worked for three years in the local Ministry of Food Office. During that time, she met Wilbur Banes, an American soldier stationed in Sherborne. They married and Doreen’s American adventures began.
She sailed from Southampton, England on the S.S. America and arrived in New York Harbor in December 1946. She often remembered seeing the lights of New York and described them as “fairyland” since England was still under brownout conditions. Although Doreen became an American citizen in 1952, she remained a Brit in her heart and loved to go back to visit family and friends in her home country.
She traveled by train from New York to Monon, IN, where she lived most of her adult life. She raised a son and two daughters in Monon. While in Monon, Doreen was an active member of the Monon United Methodist Church. She also was the first woman to serve as a member of the Monon Town Board. Doreen was a member of the Current Literature Club and the Red Hat Society. She also enjoyed playing bridge and bingo.
Doreen was office manager at Monon Trailer for 30 years. She later worked at Kelley’s Interiors in Monticello for 17 years. She moved to Lafayette in 2012 and had been a resident at Rosewalk Village since May of 2016.
She is survived by one son; two daughters; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews in England.
Doreen was preceded in death by her five brothers - George, Ronald, Richard, Peter and David Gear, all of England.
A private family service is scheduled with burial to follow at Bedford Cemetery in Monon.
She was born on June 19, 1925 to Frederick and Gertrude Gear in Sherborne, Dorset, England. Delivered by a midwife, she was the fifth of six children and the only girl in the family. Being the only girl worked to her advantage, as she got her brothers to do her math homework and cover for her during various escapades as she grew up.
She attended Sherborne Abbey grade school and at the age of 11 received a scholarship to attend the Lord Digby School for Girls as a day student. As it was during World War II, she often recalled the air raid drills they had at school and the rude noises the girls learned to make with their gas masks. Doreen always loved to have fun!
After graduation, Doreen worked for three years in the local Ministry of Food Office. During that time, she met Wilbur Banes, an American soldier stationed in Sherborne. They married and Doreen’s American adventures began.
She sailed from Southampton, England on the S.S. America and arrived in New York Harbor in December 1946. She often remembered seeing the lights of New York and described them as “fairyland” since England was still under brownout conditions. Although Doreen became an American citizen in 1952, she remained a Brit in her heart and loved to go back to visit family and friends in her home country.
She traveled by train from New York to Monon, IN, where she lived most of her adult life. She raised a son and two daughters in Monon. While in Monon, Doreen was an active member of the Monon United Methodist Church. She also was the first woman to serve as a member of the Monon Town Board. Doreen was a member of the Current Literature Club and the Red Hat Society. She also enjoyed playing bridge and bingo.
Doreen was office manager at Monon Trailer for 30 years. She later worked at Kelley’s Interiors in Monticello for 17 years. She moved to Lafayette in 2012 and had been a resident at Rosewalk Village since May of 2016.
She is survived by one son; two daughters; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews in England.
Doreen was preceded in death by her five brothers - George, Ronald, Richard, Peter and David Gear, all of England.
A private family service is scheduled with burial to follow at Bedford Cemetery in Monon.
Doreen Ruth “Ruthie” Banes, 95, passed away peacefully on Thursday evening, July 9, 2020 at Rosewalk Village in Lafayette.
She was born on June 19, 1925 to Frederick and Gertrude Gear in Sherborne, Dorset, England. Delivered by a midwife, she was the fifth of six children and the only girl in the family. Being the only girl worked to her advantage, as she got her brothers to do her math homework and cover for her during various escapades as she grew up.
She attended Sherborne Abbey grade school and at the age of 11 received a scholarship to attend the Lord Digby School for Girls as a day student. As it was during World War II, she often recalled the air raid drills they had at school and the rude noises the girls learned to make with their gas masks. Doreen always loved to have fun!
After graduation, Doreen worked for three years in the local Ministry of Food Office. During that time, she met Wilbur Banes, an American soldier stationed in Sherborne. They married and Doreen’s American adventures began.
She sailed from Southampton, England on the S.S. America and arrived in New York Harbor in December 1946. She often remembered seeing the lights of New York and described them as “fairyland” since England was still under brownout conditions. Although Doreen became an American citizen in 1952, she remained a Brit in her heart and loved to go back to visit family and friends in her home country.
She traveled by train from New York to Monon, IN, where she lived most of her adult life. She raised a son and two daughters in Monon. While in Monon, Doreen was an active member of the Monon United Methodist Church. She also was the first woman to serve as a member of the Monon Town Board. Doreen was a member of the Current Literature Club and the Red Hat Society. She also enjoyed playing bridge and bingo.
Doreen was office manager at Monon Trailer for 30 years. She later worked at Kelley’s Interiors in Monticello for 17 years. She moved to Lafayette in 2012 and had been a resident at Rosewalk Village since May of 2016.
She is survived by one son; two daughters; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews in England.
Doreen was preceded in death by her five brothers - George, Ronald, Richard, Peter and David Gear, all of England.
A private family service is scheduled with burial to follow at Bedford Cemetery in Monon.
She was born on June 19, 1925 to Frederick and Gertrude Gear in Sherborne, Dorset, England. Delivered by a midwife, she was the fifth of six children and the only girl in the family. Being the only girl worked to her advantage, as she got her brothers to do her math homework and cover for her during various escapades as she grew up.
She attended Sherborne Abbey grade school and at the age of 11 received a scholarship to attend the Lord Digby School for Girls as a day student. As it was during World War II, she often recalled the air raid drills they had at school and the rude noises the girls learned to make with their gas masks. Doreen always loved to have fun!
After graduation, Doreen worked for three years in the local Ministry of Food Office. During that time, she met Wilbur Banes, an American soldier stationed in Sherborne. They married and Doreen’s American adventures began.
She sailed from Southampton, England on the S.S. America and arrived in New York Harbor in December 1946. She often remembered seeing the lights of New York and described them as “fairyland” since England was still under brownout conditions. Although Doreen became an American citizen in 1952, she remained a Brit in her heart and loved to go back to visit family and friends in her home country.
She traveled by train from New York to Monon, IN, where she lived most of her adult life. She raised a son and two daughters in Monon. While in Monon, Doreen was an active member of the Monon United Methodist Church. She also was the first woman to serve as a member of the Monon Town Board. Doreen was a member of the Current Literature Club and the Red Hat Society. She also enjoyed playing bridge and bingo.
Doreen was office manager at Monon Trailer for 30 years. She later worked at Kelley’s Interiors in Monticello for 17 years. She moved to Lafayette in 2012 and had been a resident at Rosewalk Village since May of 2016.
She is survived by one son; two daughters; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews in England.
Doreen was preceded in death by her five brothers - George, Ronald, Richard, Peter and David Gear, all of England.
A private family service is scheduled with burial to follow at Bedford Cemetery in Monon.
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