Richard Lowell (“Dick”) Banowsky  1934-2020

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Richard Lowell (“Dick”) Banowsky passed away on Oct. 14, 2020. He was born on June 21, 1934 in Abilene to Thelma Slater Banowsky and Wade Lowell Banowsky. After graduating from Abilene Christian University, he enlisted as an officer in the US Navy, serving as a flight navigator and a JAG officer in Honolulu. After his service, he attended and graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1965. He practiced in Irving for almost 20 years and served on the school board for 12 years. 

In his first “retirement,” Dr. Banowsky opened a dental practice in Quitman and then established a cattle and Christmas tree farm nearby, a business which he enjoyed running with his family for several years. On the farm, he was fond of telling his visiting grandkids, “There is only one rule at the farm, and that is there are no rules at the farm.” The grandchildren will never forget the fun and adventure they enjoyed at the farm with their grandparents. He “retired” again in 1990 but soon found that the many hours of work he put into his farm wasn’t enough, so he began to work as a dentist for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility in Winnsboro. Twelve years later he finally retired.

A lifelong member of the Church of Christ, Dr. Banowsky served as a deacon of Central Church of Christ in Irving, and as an elder of the Holly Lake Church of Christ. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Camp Deer Run, a Church of Christ youth camp in Winnsboro.

Dr. Banowsky accomplished a number of admirable things in his life, but he always recognized that he couldn’t have done any of them without the help and support of his wife of almost 65 years, Anne Compton Banowsky. They complemented each other in all the right ways, and the uniqueness and completeness of their partnership was clear to anyone who spent time with them.

Dr. Banowsky is survived by his wife, Anne; three sons and their spouses, Bill and Susan Banowsky, Jim and Teresa Banowsky and Kurt and Angela Banowsky; six grandchildren and their spouses, William and Callie Banowsky, Robert and Vicky Banowsky, Benton Banowsky, Anna Banowsky, Sarah and Kylar Christison, and Hannah and Evan Kauper; and four great-grandchildren, Blair Banowsky, William Banowsky, Cody Christison and Zoe Christison. He is also survived by his sisters, Nancy Myers and Martha Sherman; sister-in-law, Gay Banowsky; brother-in-law, David Compton of Athens, Ga.; and numerous nieces and nephews and their children. 

Interment took place at the family garden at Bluebonnet Hills Cemetery in Colleyville on Oct. 17.