BANTA, Tom

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ January 15, 1997 Tom Banta of Salt Lake City, Utah, and formerly of the Wickenburg area, died Jan. 5 in Salt Lake City. He was 52. Mr. Banta was born in Susquehanna, Pa., on July 20, 1945. He had lived in Arizona for 20 years before moving to Utah. Mr. Banta was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the Green Beret and doing three tours in Vietnam. He belonged to the American Legion in West Jordan, Utah. Mr. Banta's hobbies included playing video games, watching football, and listening to early rock and roll -- enjoying such artists as Elvis Presley, Harry Chapin and Bette Midler. He had a love for dogs -- his most recent ones being: Retread, Trinity and Sierra. Mr. Banta worked for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Salt Lake City as a ward clerk. His co-workers and family will miss his great sense of humor. Survivors include his wife Patricia of Salt Lake City; brothers John Banta of Phoenix, Robert Banta of Springfield, Mo., Daniel Banta of Phoenix and Richard Banta of Prescott; sisters Debbie Parker of Phoenix and Leslie Moore of Bend, Ore.; and mother Edna Dooley of Ahwatukee. Memorial services will held be at 6 p.m. today (Wednesday, Jan. 15) at Menke Funeral Home in Sun City. Pastor Ed Wessling will officiate. Brown's Wickenburg Funeral Home Inc. handled all the arrangements.