ARNOLD D. BANTA

Arnold Douglas Banta, 89, of Tampa, FL funeral service is 7:00 PM, Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at the Church of Christ, 14901 North Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33613 with William Ramsey, to officiate. The family will receive friends at the church from 5:30 Pm until service time. Burial with military honors will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, August 31, 2013 at the Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Avenue, Bushnell, Florida 33513.
   A native of Brooksburg, Indiana and a local resident since 1975, when he moved to the Tampa Bay area from Chattanooga, Tennessee, he served in the US Army during World War II and the Korean War. He medically retired from the US Army as a M/SGT and during his military service, M/SGT Banta was awarded a World War II Victory Medal; Good Conduct Medal; US Army Commendation Medal; American Campaign Medal; European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge; Korean Service Medal with 3 Service Stars; United Nations Service Medal; Bronze Star Medal with "V" and Oak Leaf Cluster and a National Defense Service Medal. After retiring from the US Army, Arnold went to work and retired from the US Post Office as a mail handler. He was a member of the American Legion and a member of the Church of Christ in Tampa, Florida.
   He is preceded in death by his parents, Foster and Anna (Locke) Banta; a brother, Kip Banta; a sister, Bonnie Mason; grandchildren, Kaitlyn Smith and Michael Colon and Arnold is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Lena (Ramsey) Banta of Tampa, Florida; four daughters, Deborah Sheppard of Tampa, Florida; Julia Colon of Tampa, Florida; Kimberly Conrad of Tampa, Florida and Kitty Smith and her husband, Daniel of Tampa, Florida; six grandchildren; Maria Snider, Marl Colon, Cassie Marek, Jackie Vogt, Hunter Smith, Hannah Smith and three great grandchildren: Emma Snider, Ava Snider and Bryson Colon. Please send all floral arrangements directly to the church, prior to visitation. Veterans Funeral Care