Captain William Harris Bannister, Civil Engineer Corps, U.S. Navy (Retired), of The Magnolias of Anderson, formerly of Woodridge Court, husband of the late Mary Ellen Smith Bannister, died Sunday, April 4, 2010 at the Rainey Hospice House. Born in Anderson County, he was the son of the late Broadus B. and Marie Kay Bannister of Belton. He attended The Citadel and received engineering degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of Illinois. He was a registered professional engineer and certified structural analyst. In addition to duty in Korea and Vietnam, he was commanding officer of two major commands and Officer-in-Charge/Test Group Director of a Nuclear Test at the Nevada Test Site. After retiring from the Navy, he taught mathematics, astronomy, physics and engineering courses at Tri-County Technical College and assisted in forming the Department of Quality Assurance Technology, which he headed for six years. He was a member of Concord Baptist Church. Survivors include his daughter, Evelyn B. Ogles of Charleston; two sons, William B. Bannister and Michael E. Bannister, both of Dacula, GA; three grandsons, Wesley Ogles, Harrison and Austin Bannister; a sister, Martha King of Anderson; and three brothers, B. Willis and Jerry Kay Bannister, both of Belton, and Jimmy Ray Bannister of Gastonia, NC. A sister, Frances Cassity, preceded him in death. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Sullivan-King Mortuary, Northeast Chapel, conducted by Rev. Bob Marcaurelle. Burial, with full military honors, will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 p.m. Wednesday at the mortuary, 3205 North Highway 81, Anderson. Memorials may be made to Concord Baptist Church, 1012 Concord Road, Anderson, SC 29621 or to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621. SULLIVAN-KING MORTUARY, NORTHEAST CHAPEL www.sullivanking.com.
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