Frank Banning

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Frank Powell Banning, of Woodway, Texas, died Thursday morning, October 4, 2007, at Wesley Woods Alzheimer's Care Center in Waco, Texas.

There will be a celebration of his life, led by Suzanne Smith, chaplain for Providence Hospice, 6 p.m. Monday at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd., Waco, Texas.

Funeral services, led by The Rev. Jeff W. Fisher, will be held October 9, 2007, at 2 p.m. at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 305 N. 30th St., Waco, Texas.

Powell was born in Dallas, Texas July 20, 1951 to Frank and Leotta Thornton Banning. He attended Dallas schools and graduated with honors from Bryan Adams High School in 1969. He attended the University of Missouri in Columbia and the University of Texas in Austin. He graduated from UT with honors in 1973 with a Bachelor of Journalism. Powell then attended Baylor Law School in Waco, graduating cum laude in 1975.

Powell married Candace Maddox of Waco in 1971. After receiving his juris doctor, the couple moved to Houston where Powell served as briefing attorney for the Fourteenth Court of Civil Appeals.

He was hired by Gulf Oil Corporation as a tax attorney, beginning a life-long career in that challenging field. Powell's oldest daughter Elizabeth Lynn was born in Houston. His second daughter Megan Alexis was born in England while Powell worked in the London office of Gulf.

In 1984 Powell returned to Houston where he worked with Union Texas Petroleum as Director for Tax Planning and Compliance / International. Powell began working for Caltex Petroleum Corporation located in Los Colinas, Texas in 1991, becoming General Tax Counsel for the corporation.

When Caltex moved overseas, Powell returned to Houston to work for Lyondell Chemical, where he was Tax Manager. In 2001 he returned to Gulf and Caltex, now owned by Chevron Oil Corporation, based in San Ramon, California.

Powell enjoyed traveling all over the world with his job, saying he had been in every continent except Antarctica. He intended to go there too someday. He enjoyed his family and writing. He loved having long conversations with fellow creative thinkers about the meaning of life. He enjoyed brainstorming, coming up with new ideas and inventions.

He published a children's book "The Five Golden Rings" in 1991. Powell's intelligence, creativity, imagination and energy will be remembered by all who knew him.

Powell was preceded in death by a sister, Cecelia Sue Banning and mother Leotta Thornton Banning.

He is survived by his wife, Candace Banning, daughter Elizabeth Banning Malloy and husband Ryan, daughter Megan Banning, father Frank Banning, sister Jeannine Banning, nieces Melissa Muise, Adrienne Bradford and Kristin Glenn and nephews Joe VanVoorhis and Adam Bradford. He is also survived by sisters and brother-in-law Susan VanVoorhis and Rosemary and Jim Bradford. He loved his family, especially his girls.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Wesley Woods Alzheimer's Care Center for their tireless care during this very difficult illness. They also thank Providence Hospice for their care and support as Powell's long battle with this terrible disease came to an end.