Norman V. Bankston February 14, 1931 - February 7, 2014

Norman V. Bankston, 82, passed away in Portland on Friday, February 7, after a brief illness.

He was born February 14, 1931 in Cartersville, Georgia to Raymond and Myrtle Bankston. Norm retired from Eastern Airlines (EAL) in 1986 after 31 years of service.

When Norm was seven years old in rural Georgia, he read a book entitled "The Oregon Trail." From that day on, it was his dream to live in Oregon, and his path and that of his future family was set.

Thirty years later, his dream was realized when he was given the opportunity to transfer with Eastern in 1967 to help open a new station in Portland. Norm's passions in life were his family, their new life in Oregon, and the airline industry.

At the age of 19, Norm met the love of his life-an 18-year-old beauty named Lorene Harris. After a brief courtship of three months, Norm and Lorene married on June 16, 1950. Norm joined the United States Air Force shortly thereafter during the Korean War, and served at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.

Norm and Lorene raised two sons and a daughter in Gresham. Upon Norm's retirement from Eastern Airlines, Norm and Lorene retired to Sisters from 1986 to 1993 and Redmond from 1998 to 2003. They considered Central Oregon their home.

Norm was preceded in death by his first-born, Warren Keith Bankston, in December, 1970 and by his beloved wife, Lorene, on February 7, 2012. They were married just four months short of 62 years.

He is survived by daughter Sheryl (Alvin) Russell of Hendersonville, NC; son Michael (Cindy) Bankston of Boring; grandaughter Misty (Ben) Gruita of Houston, TX; and great-grandchildren Isabella and Greyson Gruita. He is also survived by brothers Douglas Bankston of Marietta, GA, Robert Bankston of Jefferson, GA, and many nieces and nephews. Another brother, Virgil Bankston, also preceded him in death.

Memorial service and interment at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Norm and Lorene's memory may be made to the Alzheimers Association, http://www.alz.org.