David G. Banta met his Lord, Christ the Savior, at home near his loving wife, Bev, on Saturday, May 31, 2008 in Mt. Vernon, Wash. An adoring and devoted husband, David and his bride of 57 years, Beverly Dickson Banta, were blessed with a wonderful, joyful marriage with two children, three grandchildren and a long retirement spanning 23 years. David was man of deep faith who lived by example, demonstrating robust strength, leadership, integrity, unfailing persistence, a commitment to serve, and a passionate love for his family.
David was an incredible father to Deborah Banta Dustman (husband Rich) and Laurie Banta Socotch ( husband Steve), the latter who preceded him in death from breast cancer in 2003; grandfather to Jill, Thomas and Peter Socotch; brother to Howard Banta of Tigard, Ore. His parents, Dorothy and Gareld Banta, preceded his passing.
Born in Shelton, Wash. on Sept. 4, 1929, David grew up in Ketchikan, Alaska and, briefly in Des Moines, Wash. David received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1951 in Forest Engineering from Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore. Following in the footsteps of his father, a United States Coast Guard captain, David served six years as a Lieutenant in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve.
In 1961, David received a Master of Forestry degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, Wash., and soon after was licensed as a professional land surveyor. For more than a half-century, David was a member in the Society of American Foresters. Employed for 30 years by Crown Zellerbach, a forest products company, David worked and raised his family in Neah Bay, Forks and Port Angeles, Wash.; Seaside, Vernonia, and Portland, Ore.  He retired in 1985, after which he and his wife, Bev, became 'snowbirds' enjoying living both in Indio, Ca. and LaConner, Wash. They moved to Mount Vernon in 2006.
Among his commitments to a life of service, David was student body president of Ketchikan High S chool; a Vernonia city councilman; board member on the Columbia County, Ore., Regional Planning Commission and president of Outdoor Resorts homeowners' association in Cathedral City, Ca. He also volunteered time at Valley Presbyterian Church in Portland, Ore. and Mt. Vernon First United Methodist Church.
A celebration of David's life will be held on Saturday, June 7, time TBD at Mt. Vernon First United Methodist Church (WWW.MVFUMNC.COM), 1607 East Division Street, Mount Vernon, Washington. Memorial gifts in David's name may be made to Skagit Hospice Foundation, the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation, or Mt. Vernon First United Methodist Church.