Dr. David Allen Bankes, lovingly known by his family as “Papa D”, passed away on April 24, 2023, at the age of 83. He was born on December 20, 1939, in Kingston, Pennsylvania but spent his childhood in New Castle, Delaware. Dave was preceded in death by his father, Wilmer; mother, Minnie Gertrude, and brothers; Jack and Charles Bankes. Left to cherish Dave’s memory are his beloved children and grandson, Gina Mingee (daughter), Benjamin Bankes (son), Nicholas Workman (grandson), and his dear friends, Charlene Fowler (ex-wife), and Donald Goings (former employee). Dave enjoyed a celebrated career in academics and many hobbies that he truly loved. He graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and earned both a master’s degree in ornamental horticulture and a Ph.D. in botany from Ohio State University. To satisfy his love for learning, Dave also did radiation research at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Long Island, New York. His hobby of cooking gourmet meals began when he was the manager at Stouffer’s restaurant in Washington D.C. Dave was a college professor for thousands of students while teaching at Ohio State, George Mason, and Christopher Newport Universities. He developed the first perennial gardens at Christopher Newport, led student tours through the gardens of London, and taught for 35 years receiving his Professor Emeritus. After retiring, not only did Dave celebrate his love for cooking by owning the fine dining restaurant, Red Maple Inn, in Newport News, which hosted many weddings in the beautiful gardens he grew, but also devoted much of his time to assisting his cherished grandson, Nick, with his academics. He was a devoted family man, a teacher and mentor to countless students, and a thoughtful helper to everyone he met.

The family will receive visitors at 6 Eagle Point Road, Hampton, Virginia on Saturday May 13, 2023, from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family would request that you plant a tree or perennial to remember and celebrate his life.