Bane, Sr., William Doak

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On September 2, 2018, after 95 years, seven months and fourteen days of life, William Doak Bane, Sr. left his beloved Cedar Grove Farm and White Gate community in Giles County, VA to go to his final home with the Lord.

Born January 19, 1923 in the family home in White Gate, VA, Bill Bane was the youngest child of James William Bane and Elizabeth (Bessie) Rose Davidson Bane. He graduated from Tazewell High School and attended Bluefield College. A scholarship was later established in his name. After his father’s death he took over the family farm at age twenty and continued to operate it into his retirement years. He married Jean Price Hypes of Sinking Creek (Craig Co), VA on August 14, 1948. They had two children and a life-long career together of remodeling the old family home at Cedar Grove Farm. Mr. Bane served as deputy treasurer in the Giles County Treasurer’s Office for nine years and then as the elected treasurer for twenty years until his retirement in 1988. Through his work in the Treasurer’s Office and as an agent of the Division of Motor Vehicles Mr. Bane knew almost everyone in Giles County and remembered them each time he met them thereafter.

Mr. Bane had a rich and active church life beginning with his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Savior at age fifteen. He served as a deacon, treasurer, stewardship chair, Sunday School teacher, Finance Committee member, and pastor search committee member at various churches throughout his life: Walkers Creek Baptist Church, Pearisburg Baptist Church, and Castle Rock Baptist Church. He was a director and treasurer of the Robert Sheffey Memorial Camp Meeting Association for nineteen years. Reading his Bible and devotions were part of his daily routine.

He was active in many organizations and clubs. Professionally, he was a member/officer of the Treasurers Association of Virginia and the Southwest Virginia Treasurers Association for twenty years. As Scoutmaster of Boy Scouts of America Troop 72 he aided five boys in attaining the rank of Eagle Scout and guided eleven other boys in developing life skills. He helped organize the Poplar Hill Volunteer Fire Department and was Treasurer for ten years. He was president of the White Gate Community Improvement Club when they were selected as the top club in southwest Virginia and eastern Tennessee. As a charter member and many times officer of the White Gate Ruritan Club for fifty-four years, Bill Bane was dedicated to improving the community. He helped organize the Giles County Historical Society and served in officer positions for over a dozen years. He was a member/ treasurer of the New River Valley chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution for over fifteen years. Bill Bane spent his life being heavily involved in his community, county, and state.

Bill enjoyed a deep love of family, history, his community, travel, and reading local history books, newspapers, and magazines. He authored several books. Memories of White Gate Community, Giles County, Virginia and Life at Cedar Grove Farm (2003) passes on family knowledge of the area in which he lived his entire life. Bane-Davidson Family Memories (2002) records important events from his father’s diary. History of Walkers Creek Baptist Church (2010) preserves the records and memories of this church from 1824 to 1984. In the course of his long life, Bill visited all fifty US states and several European countries.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers James Edward Bane, Eugene Miller Bane, Sr., John Davidson Bane, sister Mary Harmon Bane Peery, and son-in-law William Fritz Norris. Left to cherish the memory of this kind and gentle man are his wife of seventy years, Jean Price Hypes Bane; daughter Becky Bee Bane Howard (Morgan David Howard) of Lynchburg, VA; son William Doak Bane, Jr. (Evelyn Mackerney Bane [Suzy]) of Huntsville, AL; and three grandsons: James Courtney and Devon Davidson Bane of Huntsville, AL, and Kendall Patrick Bane (Jessica Laine Bane) of Pearisburg, VA. Beloved nieces and nephews never forgot their Uncle Bill: Eugene Miller Bane, Jr. (Rebecca) of Salem, VA; Nancyanne Bane Schultejans of St. Louis, MO; James William Bane (Eileen) of Golden, CO; Ruthmary Bane Brassfield (Irl) of Hayes, KS; Nancy Bane Peery Olson (David) of Fayetteville, NC; and Brenda Bane Fanning (Ronnie) of Pearisburg, VA. Sister-in-law Rosemary Bane of Murfreesboro, TN continues to love the remaining Bane family with gusto. He is remembered as a loving and caring man devoted to his family, friends, God, and his community. Bill Bane will be deeply missed by all.

A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home Chapel, White Gate, with Rev. Gary Poff, pastor of Castle Rock Baptist Church, and Rev. Todd Millsaps, associate pastor of Blacksburg Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at the Walkers Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home Chapel, White Gate from 6:00P.M. until 8:00P.M.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you remember Bill Bane with a donation to the White Gate Ruritan Club, c/o Ernest Miller, 359 Walkers Creek Valley Road, Pearisburg, VA 24134

The Bane family is in the care of A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate, avestandsons.com, (540) 921-2985.