Phyllis J. Banks, 54, of Oliver Township in Adams County, Ohio, died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2010, at home.

She was born Aug. 24, 1955, in Miamisburg.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Arizona (Cole) Wallen, and a son, Jason Banks.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, Michael R. Banks; a son, Preston (Stacey) Banks, and a daughter, Rebecca A. (Mike) Adamson, all of Oliver Township; two brothers, Charles Wallen of Indianapolis, Ind., and William H. Wallen of California; three sisters, Pauline Eldridge and Deborah Russell, both of Middletown, Ohio; and Ruby Laws of Miamisburg, Ohio; and two grandchildren.

She was a former employee of Hillcrest Nursing Center at Lawshe in Meigs Township. She was a former volunteer and member of The Blue Creek Homeless Shelter in Blue Creek. She was an activist for the Southwest Chapter of The American Cancer Society.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Creek Homeless Shelter, c/o Bob Boldman, P.O. Box 678990 Blue Creek Road, Blue Creek, Ohio 45616.

Funeral service will be held Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 at 1 p.m. at Lafferty Funeral Home in West Union, Ohio, with Bishop Preston Banks officiating. Burial will be at Locust Grove Cemetery in Franklin Township. Friends may call from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.