Layton Thomas Banks was born in Manchester, Tennessee on April 8, 1921, the eighth of ten children, to John Thomas and Virginia “Jennie” (Pirtle) Banks. The family moved to Howe, Grayson County, Texas in 1923, and to Dallas in 1933. Layton attended Dallas schools and with limited opportunities available, joined the United States Navy in November 1939 on a “Kiddie Cruise”. He achieved the rank of Coxswain while assigned to the USS Oklahoma (BB 37). He met and married Dorothy Marie Platt in September 1941. He was 20 years old.
Layton was killed on board the USS Oklahoma (BB 37) during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii when the ship capsized. His remains were recovered in 1943 and interred in Hawaii among 388 unidentified remains at the National Cemetery of the Pacific until 2015. His remains were moved to a lab for DNA identification and the family was notified in October 2019 his remains had been identified.
Layton was survived by his wife of three months, “Dot”; parents and eight siblings, Walter, Elizabeth, Stella, Weldon, Sally (Goldie), Lela, Vestal and Billy Wayne Banks all now deceased; and by the numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great grand nieces and nephews born since his passing.
In support of our local, state, and federal govt including CDC directives and to protect the physical health, safety and well-being of our community, only a limited number of guests will be allowed to attend the Funeral Service.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 24, 2020, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas, and will also be live streamed on the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Facebook page and a recorded video will be available following the funeral service on Layton’s obituary page.
However, when the maximum number of guests are reached, those who would like to honor Layton and show their support to his family may remain at the funeral home in your vehicle, where you can watch the live streamed service on your personal device (laptop, tablet or smartphone) or listen through a designated FM radio channel.
Interment will follow at the Rowlett Creek Cemetery in Plano, Texas.
Celebrationoflife.tv livestream https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/layton-thomas-banks