Billy Ray Bankston Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 10, 2022 at 1:00 PM in La Chapelle de Martin & Castille in Lafayette for Billy Ray Bankston, 88, who passed away on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Lafayette. Deacon Tommy Kilpatrick of Conroe, TX will conduct the funeral services. The family requests that visitation be observed in Martin & Castille's DOWNTOWN location on Thursday from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM and will continue on Friday from 10:00 AM until time of services. Billy was born in Winnsboro, Louisiana on October 13, 1933. He graduated from Winnsboro High School and that same year joined the U.S. Army in Monroe, Louisiana. He was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas and there he joined the paratroopers with his longtime friend, James Cupit. After 9 months of paratrooper training they were sent overseas to Korea and Japan in 1953. Billy quickly became a Sergeant in the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. He was stationed there for 3 years to serve in the Korean Conflict. Upon his departure he hitchhiked to Monroe and then on to Baton Rouge, where he began LSU School of Petroleum Engineering in the fall of 1955. His Junior year at LSU he decided to drop out and go to Mud School in Houston, Texas to become a Mud Engineer. Billy began his career as a Mud Engineer in 1959. While working in New Iberia, Louisiana, he met the love of his life, the reigning, even still today, "Miss Broussard", Elaine Comeaux on a blind date. They married in 1966 and moved back up to Winnsboro briefly, then to Lake St. John in Ferriday, Louisiana where he owned and operated "Spokane Grocery", a bait, tackle, grocery store, and boat launch. He enjoyed his years at Spokane grocery and later spoke of it as some of the best years of his life. Finally in 1979, they settled in Broussard where they raised their family. Billy was a highly sought after Mud Engineer. Some companies he worked for included: Milwhite, Milchem, Wilmco, Jack Wade Drilling, MI Swaco, Amerada Hess, Beyroid, and Cimarex. Billy was full of personality, a Southern gentleman, a drinker, a cusser, a fusser and a grumpy old man. He could light up a room with his colorful sayings that would have you laughing in seconds. He was blunt, didn't sugar coat anything and was not soft with his delivery. He may have sounded harsh at times but it was only because he cared and genuinely wanted to help by being truthful and straightforward. He was an honest, kind and hardworking man and a devoted husband and father. Survivors include one daughter, Lindsay LeRae' Bankston of Lafayette; two sons, William Aaron Bankston of Texas, and Robert Miles Bankston of Lafayette; one brother, Jerry Lee Bankston and wife, Patsy; his beloved cousin, Tommy Bankston and wife, Helen Lynn; his devoted friend of many years, Mike Calkins. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 46 years, Elaine Marie Comeaux Bankston; one daughter, Juanita Marie Bankston; and his parents, Mary Elizabeth Webb Flint and William Clyde Bankston. Pallbearers will be Guy Smith, Jagger Smith, Mike Calkins, Joey Credeur, Alan Smith, and Elmer Slagle. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jerry Lee Bankston, Louis Castille, Lefty Lafferty, Tom Managan, Tommy Bankston, James Cupit, Steve Thompson, and Irvin Patin. A heartfelt appreciation is extended by the Bankston family to Dr. Gus Ingraldi, Dr. Wayne Cestia, Nursing Specialties, Stacey Frederick, Blair Durham, Maria Wenzens, Megan Givens, and especially to his caregiver, Bailey Hanks for her special care, friendship and for all the "highballs" Billy requested. Lindsay would also like to thank Mike and Brenda Calkins, for many years of friendship, support and visits that brightened Billy's life, especially his frequent "hooch" deliveries. View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com Martin & Castille-DOWNTOWN-330 St. Landry St., Lafayette, LA 70506, 337-234-2311

Billy Ray Bankston

October 13, 1933 - June 5, 2022

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