Walter Harry Banks, Jr., 67, died Saturday, December 27, 2014, at his home in Gilroy, California, surrounded by his family, after waging a fierce battle against a virulent form of cancer.


Walter was born on October 24, 1947, in Boston, Massachusetts, the first born child of Walter, Sr., and Ada Irving Banks. At an early age, Walter showed great academic promise, was admitted to the Mount Hermon Preparatory School for gifted students and graduated with honors in 1965. As a National Merit Scholar, he was awarded a full academic scholarship to Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, from which he graduated with a baccalaureate degree in Journalism.
Walter's storied career evolved from proofreader to copy editor at the Wall Street Journal, in Palo Alto, to paralegal specialist at Thelen Law Firm and Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service (JAMS) in San Jose, and the Fortino Law Firm in Gilroy, California.
In his spare time and throughout his adult life, Walter nourished his love for people and problem solving while serving as a tutor, mentor, big brother, and bartender on weekends and holidays at various establishments in and around Palo Alto. He often took people under his watchful wing, providing guidance, encouragement and financial assistance, as needed. He was well known for his intellect, wit, humor and generosity, and his love of football, having been a star cornerback in high school. He was an avid reader and compassionate philosopher.

He is survived by his wife of 12 1/2 years, Sondra Banks; his two daughters, Yvonne Lynette Lynum of Atlanta, Georgia, and Courtney Susie Jenkins of Gilroy, California; his sister, Denise Banks of Silver Spring, Maryland; his nephew Ibn Trower of Silver Spring, Maryland; his four grandchildren: D'ana Marje Dudley of Tacoma, Washington; and Mustafa Samos, Xavier Augustus, and Kaleb Obasi Lynum of Atlanta, Georgia; his aunts Leathia Irving Kelly of Los Angeles, California, and Megdelena Irving, of Boston, Massachusetts; and numerous cousins residing in southern California, Virginia, New York and Massachusetts. Walter was predeceased by his parents, Walter, Sr., and Ada Irving Banks of Palo Alto, California; his younger brother Al Banks of Palo Alto, California; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.


A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, January 2, 2015, at 2:00 p.m., in the Habing Family Funeral Home Memorial Chapel of Gilroy, California.

The family has asked that donations be made in Walter's name to the American Cancer Society for cancer research and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, in lieu of flowers