Bill B. Banter, 77, a lifetime resident of Jackson Township, passed away on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at Stillwater Hospice in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Bill was born on February 24, 1946 in Marion, Indiana to Byron Banter and Florence (Widner) Banter. He graduated from Jackson Township High School in 1964 and from Purdue in 1969 with a degree in Agriculture. During college, he was part of the Alpha-Gamma-Rho fraternity and a member of the Student Union. It would end up that his two sons, Will and Brent would be members of the same fraternity. Upon graduation, Bill established Banter Farms in 1970. He married Dianna Lynn (Rody) Banter on March 6, 1971 in Jerome, Indiana. Bill and Dianna were members of the Church of McNatt.
A lifetime farmer in Wells County, Bill was heavily involved in his community. Bill was very proud of the men who worked for him, including those that came through the Southern Wells I.C.E. program. He was a 50-year member of the Van Buren Masonic Lodge, he received a young farmers award from Wells County, was on the Jackson Township Advisory Board, spent 12 years on the Southern Wells Community School Board, the Trustee of Jones Cemetery, and a longtime member of the S.A.M.’s club in Warren. Bill enjoyed being at the Wells County 4-h fair helping the children show cattle. Bill enjoyed traveling with his wife and friends to Hawaii and the Caribbean, and always went to Purdue football games, including the Rose Bowl and Cotton Bowl as part of the “Fat Boys”. Friends would joke when the group of friends, supposed to be called the “Frat Boys” was renamed the “Fat Boys” due to a typing error. Bill was committed to his family, his friends, and his community and will be greatly missed.
Bill was preceded in death by his father, Byron Banter, mother, Florence Taylor, and stepfather, Ralph Taylor.
Loving survivors include his wife of 53 years, Dianna Lynn Banter of Warren, IN, sons, Will B. Banter of Warren, IN and Brent A. Banter of Austin, TX, grandchildren, Clay (Kyla) Banter of Warren, IN, Cole Banter of Warren, IN, and Cash Banter of Warren, IN, sister, Jan (Dr. George) Babcock of Bluffton, IN, and brother, Robey Taylor of St. Louis, MO.
Friends and family may gather to share and remember on Monday, June 12, 2023, from 2pm to 8pm at Glancy-H. Brown & Son Funeral Home located at 203 N Matilda St. Warren, IN 46792. A funeral service will be held at 11am on Tuesday, June 12, 2023 with Pastor Bill VanHaften Officiating. Burial will follow at Jones Cemetery in rural Wells County, Indiana.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to:
McNatt Church at 9183 W. 800 S. -90 Montpelier, IN 47359 or Wells County 4-H Association /Cattle Barn at 1240 4 H Park Rd. Bluffton, IN 46714
Arrangements have been entrusted to Glancy-H. Brown & Son Funeral Home in Warren
