Arthur R. Bannister

Washington bricklayer Arthur R. Bannister, 73, of Washington, died at 7 p.m. Monday, April 28, 2003, in Donnell House, Washington, after being ill for two years with mesothelioma. He was born July 26, 1929, in Muskegon, Mich., a son of Wray and Anna Conroy Bannister. Mr. Bannister was a member of Third United Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder and trustee. He was chairman of the church's building committee in 1966, a member of the Young at Hearts Group and played dartball for the church for many years. He was employed as a union bricklayer with BAC No. 9 for 57 years and taught apprentice bricklayers for the union. Mr. Bannister was a life member of Elks. On July 2, 1950, he married Roberta Kathleen Huggins, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Arthur Richard Bannister of Las Cruces, N.M.; two daughters, Kathleen Willis and Candis Borkowski, both of Washington; two sisters, Virginia Santelli and Judy Miller, both of Washington; eight grandchildren, Justin, Seth and Zachary Bannister, Heidi Simon, Christy and Brad Willis, Michael and Roberta Borkowski; and a great-granddaughter. BANNISTER - Friends of Arthur R. Bannister of Washington, who died Monday, April 28, 2003, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, May 2, with the Rev. Lesley Shoup officiating. Interment will follow in Washington Cemetery. The family suggests contributions to Third United Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 22 Cortez Drive, Washington, PA 15301; to Donnell House, 10 Leet Street, Washington, PA 15301; or to MARF (Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation Inc.), 1609 Garden Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.