Charles H. "Flashlight" Banks

LEICESTER – Charles H. “Flashlight” Banks, age 93, of Leicester died Saturday, February 10, 2024.

Mr. Banks was born May 17, 1930, in Buncombe County to the late Herman Decatur and Della Willie Carland Banks. He was in the United States Marine Corps and North Carolina National Guard. For a few years he was a Deputy Constable in Buncombe County. Flashlight was most known for being the owner/operator of Carolina Police. He was one of the last privately sworn officers in the state and was also involved in area volunteer fire departments. He was a member of Mountain View Freewill Baptist Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Katherine Hawkins Banks who died in 2022; sister, Elizabeth Pressley and Lois Smith and brother, Decatur Banks.

Surviving are his sons, Ray Banks and wife Vikki Maney Banks and Roger Banks and wife Missy Parris; brothers, Gerald Banks, and W.L. Banks; 3 grandchildren, Aaron Banks and wife Christie, Kimberly Shambaugh and husband Kurt, and Lauren Parris; and 3 great grandchildren, Paul, Clint, and Lilly.

His funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Friday, February 16, 2023, in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, Weaverville. Rev. Anthony Fox will officiate. Burial will follow in Mountain View Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Friday prior to the funeral service.

Memorials may be made to Mountain View Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Becky Ponder, 15 Harbeck Drive, Weaverville, NC 28787.

West Family Funeral Services is honored to be serving Charles’ family. Condolences may be offered to the family under his obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.