Bonita Jean Banks, 94, of Bellville passed away Friday, February 13, 2026.
Bonnie resided in Bellville, Ohio and was born February 28, 1931 to Glenn and Geneva Walters. She graduated from Bellville High School with the class of 1949.
A lifelong Richland County resident, she was a devoted wife of 67 years to her husband Earl Banks.
Bonnie worked many different places in Mansfield, but her love of children was her gift of life. She retired from Richland Newhope School after 23 years. Following retirement, Bonnie and Earl enjoyed traveling throughout most of the United States and much of Europe as well. She enjoyed cooking and gardening for her family. Bonnie loved to golf and married a great golfer in Earl. She had said, “he must have been a great teacher” because over the years Bonnie won numerous women’s championships and league championships. She played locally at Possum Run and Pleasant Hill Golf Courses and achieved two holes-in-one at San Dar Acres (currently Little Apple Golf Course) in Bellville.
Bonnie enjoyed solving puzzles and was a lifetime member of the Bellville Historical Society and the Bellville Presbyterian Church.
She is survived by her daughter Debbie (Kevin) Kleer and son Jeff (Karen) Banks; two grandchildren Nathan (Brie) Kleer and Andrea (David) Tingley; three great-grandchildren Emma, Chad, and Elliot Tingley; and her brother Jim (Maurine) Walters.
Along with her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Earl Banks; siblings Betty McDonald, and Richard, Doyle, Don, and Jerry Walters.
Graveside services will be Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 10:30 am at Bellville Cemetery. The Bellville Snyder Funeral Home is honored to assist the Banks family with services.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bellville Historical Society (167 Main Street, Bellville, Ohio 44813.)
Funeral Home: Bellville Snyder Funeral Home
Website: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com