Walter Ebanks

Walter R. Ebanks died Nov. 13, at age 97. He was born on Grand Cayman Island, came to the USA as a deckhand and volunteered to serve in the US Army in June 1941. He became a naturalized citizen of the US in Hawaii during World War II. He served as a Technical Sergeant in the Army Corps of Engineers and also qualified as a sharpshooter. He was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for heroism displayed in rescuing a drowning enlisted man on Oahu in 1945.

Walter met his future wife Dorothy Griner at Lamar Junior College after the war, and they married Dec. 20, 1946 in Beaumont. They have lived in Orange and been members of the First Presbyterian Church since 1954. During his career as a CPA, he was a founding partner in the firm Ebanks, Owens, and Butler, and he served as County Auditor for a few years in the 1960s. He served the First Presbyterian Church as Deacon and in several other capacities.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents John Timothy and Elizabeth Susannah Ebanks of Cayman and his 11 brothers and sisters.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy; son Bruce (Annalisa) Ebanks of Louisville, KY; daughters Claire (Robert) Eike of Oak Park, IL, Carol Ebanks of Orange and five grandchildren.

Memorials may be donated to the General Fund of the First Presbyterian Church, 902 Green Avenue, Orange, Texas 77630, to OCARC 905 West Park Avenue, Orange, Texas 77630, or to a charity of choice.