Elma Meril Banks passed peacefully from this life early on 18 September 2023 in Sun City, Georgetown, TX, after a fun night of playing games with her neighbors.
She came into this world on 13 July 1932 along with her twin sister, Thelma Pearl, in Snover, Michigan to parents Robert George Dunn and Alice Erma Clapsaddle Dunn. They were quite the birthday surprise for their mother, as they were born on her birthday after she carried them full term without realizing she was having twins. When Elma was young, she went by Alma and found out many years later that her parents had spelled her name as Elma on her birth certificate. As number three and four of eight siblings, Elma and Thelma were tasked to help their father with the outside chores and thus Elm’s mechanical talents were born and nurtured. They attended school in Oxford, MI where they were cheerleaders, played basketball and loved to roller skate. They were taught to sew by their mother and Grandma Stevens and were both accomplished seamstresses, able to tailor suits and even wedding dresses.
Elma enjoyed singing and sang beautiful harmony with Thelma around Flint, MI where they moved tor employment with AC Spark Plugs. Elma was proud to be the first setup woman at AC, during which time she also raised her four children. She enjoyed bowling on many leagues while at AC. She retired from AC after 33 years and then worked part time at a dress boutique. She excelled at crafts and enjoyed crocheting, knitting and making fleece blankets. Elma enjoyed being “the crazy grandma” and was always up for an adventure, traveling with her children and grandchildren, comping, boating and fishing. She loved going Up North and cruising to Alaska and the Caribbean. She has been to almost every state and enjoyed each one! Elma spent 15 years in Newalla, OK enjoying her youngest grandchild before moving to Sun City for 5 years.
She is predeceased by her parents, brother, Jim Dunn, sister, Nor Ann Billgren, son-in-law, Carlos Frye, Jr and great grandson Benjamin Woodward.
She is survived by her children: Richard Banks (Laura) of Allen Park, MI; Steven Banks of Burton, MI; Valerie Frye of Sun City, TX; Kimberley Woodward (Jeff) of Mt Morris, MI; special daughter in law, Rhonda Banks of Sun City, TX. She is also survived by these siblings: Wanda Jane Kinkle of Orion, MI; Thelma Fridline of Flint, MI; Max Dunn (Verneta) of Greenbush, MI; Shirley Eargood of Eastpoint, MI; and Nancy Lamphier (Jerald) of Lapeer, MI. Elma has eight grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
There will be a viewing on Sunday, Sept 24, 2023 from 1 pm to 6 pm at O’Guinn Funeral Home, 503 N Mill St, in Clio. On Monday, September 25, 2023, there will be a viewing from 12pm to 1pm, followed promptly by the funeral at Fellowship Baptist Church, 14046 N. Saginaw Rd, Clio. There will be a procession and burial at Flint Memorial Park.