Olga Trammell Banks, aged 102, took her final breath peacefully at home in her much-loved sunroom in the early morning hours of Sunday, February 18. This was exactly how and where she wished to leave her earthly body.Olga was born in Ballinger where her grandparents lived but returned to Midland where her parents owned and operated a café, first in the Llano Hotel and later in the Crawford Hotel.Olga was a quick learner, saying she never really applied herself diligently or worked hard at school, eventually graduating as salutatorian at Midland High School. She took the train to Denton and earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1936 from what has become Texas Women’s University. While her first jobs were as a hospital nutritionist/dietitian and then a State social worker, she was recruited by the Superintendent of Schools in Baird, Texas to teach chemistry in the high school. As a teacher, Olga found her true calling.It was in Baird that she met the love of her life, Bill Banks. Having married in 1938, they lived in Baird, then Snyder and moved to Midland in the early 50’s. Olga earned her Master’s degree from Texas Tech University the old-fashioned way – by attending summer sessions. Olga and Bill never had any children of their own but Olga had several thousand young ladies she strongly impacted through her teaching Home Economics at first San Jacinto Junior High School, then Midland High School and, finally, at Lee High School from its opening day until she retired. In 2012, Mrs. Banks was inducted into the Lee Legacy Wall of Honor in recognition of her outstanding service to Robert E. Lee High School and meritorious contributions to others. She was well known for referring to everyone as “sweetie”.Sadly, Bill died in 1982 during the early years of their retirement but she continued to love her Yorkies, collect friends, play bridge and participate as an active member of the Twentieth Century Study Club.Olga was a good steward of the resources left to her by her parents, which she left to the Permian Basin Area Foundation to create a permanent endowment fund to provide scholarships for graduates of both Midland high schools, as well as students of Midland College. The grants will be made in honor of Olga T. Banks, Wm. A. Banks (Bill), Eddie Handley, Calvin E. Trammell, Ada Tallua and Edward Jackson Handley.She is survived by cousins Sara Ames (John) and by Mary Williams (Bowman), all of San Antonio, as well as a plethora of friends and former students. At her direction, she was quickly laid to rest beside her beloved Bill in a private graveside service, officiated by Reverend Melissa Shuler of First United Methodist Church in Midland. In lieu of flowers, she would love for any memorials to be sent to Permian Basin Area Foundation for the endowment of “Grand Companions”, an adoption center for beloved pets.Friends and family wish to express their gratitude to Mrs. Banks’s caregivers, Paula, Jai, Rose and Karen, whose care and compassion allowed her to stay in her home. Close friends continued to help her for which she was always thankful. Special thanks go to Star Hospice.,
