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Leslie A. Bannon Lewisville, TX QCWA # 12298 Chapter 83 |
Obituary
On January 1, 2021, Leslie Alan Bannon, loving husband, father of 3 and grandfather of 5 and great grandfather of 2, passed away at the age of 84. Les was born on March 20, 1936, to Jack and Violet Bannon of Indianapolis, Indiana, He was in preceded in death by first wife Mitzi Darlene Muse, second wife Christina Sue Lagrange. He is survived by his sister Janice Bannon of Martinsville, Indiana. 3 Children, Pat LaGrange of Indianapolis, IN, Reid Bannon of Hurst, Tx and Barbara Harris of Lewisville, Tx, He is survived by 5 Grandchildren, Christopher LaGrange, Drew Bannon, Travis Bannon, Tiffany Harris, and Benjamin Harris, and 2 great granddaughters.
Also, his dog Brittany. Les graduated from Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis, then went on to Purdue University where he graduated with a degree in Engineering. He worked for his Father at Radio Distributing company (RADISCO) in Indianapolis, In. A company that was started in 1929 by his father and his uncle. After working for RADISCO, moved on in sales as an electronics part's distributor at Van Sickle of Indianapolis, In. He later moved himself and his family to Midland, TX to start a Rolls Royce Dealership in the hey day of Oil Boom.
Later he changed careers to Aviation and started his own Business, Bannon Avionics. where he wired and installed radio and navigation panels in airplanes, during which time he had the opportunity of working and meeting President George W. Bush and his father. He was FAA certified and would drive all over west Texas to certify, aviation equipment for many customers.
He had many hobbies and interests over his life time. Amateur (Ham) Radio, he was first licensed in 1952 at the age of 16. He had a passion for this hobby that never ended. He never lost interest in Ham Radio and enjoyed it so much. He had achieved a great deal of success in this hobby, from working DX (380 +) countries of the world some of which are no longer in existence. He loved QSL cards, and even had a QSL Service over the years. WF5E QSL Service. He made friends all over the world, he was a master at CW (Morse code) his favorite mode. He chased DX, contested, built radios, and amplifiers, supported multiple Ham Radio Clubs, including the Lone Star DX Association, The DFW Contest Club, the Plano Amateur Radio Klub, the Lake Area Radio Association (LARA), in Lewisville, Tx. The Midland Amateur Radio Club. Indy Dxer's, and many other clubs and associations. He loved going to club meetings, he loved Ham Com every year, and the Dayton Hamvention.
His other interests included: He was an EMT on the volunteer fire department in Pike Township, Indianapolis, IN. He restored antique cars over the years and had quite the collection. He was a member of multiple car clubs and would go on Caravans in his old cars with the members of the club. He had a passion for photography, he would take pictures in the pits and garage at the Indianapolis 500 race. He loved Science fiction books, and movies and had quite the collection. He enjoyed food, Texas Roadhouse, Popeyes Chicken, (spicy) with the sweet heat sauce. His honey pepper bacon from Two Row in Allen, Tx. and of course, the all you can eat shrimp at red lobster. He could eat everyone under the table without gaining any weight. In his later years he struggled with Parkinson's disease and got to where he couldn't walk on his own anymore. He was without one eardrum, one hearing aide in one ear and his mind as sharp a tack. He would constantly email or text Reid or Barb when his Pepsi would run low or if he needed something on his HOT LIST he would call it. He was always tinkering with his ham radio and getting it to interface with the latest ham radio software. He was on the air up until his passing.
Currently the family is not planning any memorial services. Later in the year, we will return his remains to Indiana for burial next to his wife Christina Bannon. He will constantly be in our memory.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Parkinson Voice Project.