Phillip Dean Bangs

Phillip Dean (Phil) Bangs was born on August 31, 1935 to George Elmer and Jessie Angeline (Milliron) Bangs in Nevada City, California. Phil passed away peacefully at the age of 87 in the comforts of his home after a very brief battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He was preceded in death by his parents, George Elmer and Jessie Angeline (Milliron) Bangs as well as his only brother, Donald Wayne (Don) Bangs of Wisconsin. Phil loved his family dearly and is survived by his beloved wife Helen Margaret Williams; his daughter Jeanetta (Jeania) Bangs of Wilseyville, California; son Rodney Bangs and wife Rosa of San Antonio, Texas; daughter Aluvia Costello and husband Jerome of Sacramento, California; and daughter Adevia Mackes and husband Michael of Elk Grove, California; his grandchildren Roni Rojas and husband Joseph, Gabriel Bangs, Rodney Bangs, Jr. and wife Chellore, Jordan Costello, Noah Mackes and Nicole Mackes; his great grandchildren Katrina Bangs, Orion Rojas and Kaitlynn, Jacob Rojas and Peytyn, Riley Bangs and Mila Bangs; his great great granddaughter Vivienne Noelle Rojas; his nephew Russell Binder, niece Pauline Binder-Finnema and husband Sjoerd and niece Beverly Johnson and husband Robert; his great niece Hannah Johnson, great nephew Benjamin Johnson and great nephew Noah Finnema.

In his youth, Phil enjoyed getting into mischief around town with his brother affording fun stories of rolling pipes down hills and briefly being under the watchful eye of the town policeman. He met his first wife and high school sweetheart, Katherine Elizabeth (Kathy) Moore, at the Colfax United Methodist Church youth group. Growing up, Phil attended Colfax Elementary School and then Placer High School where he was the school bus driver and participated in the inactive Army Reserves. Phil and Kathy married on August 4, 1954 just four days before he left for Okinawa to serve as a truck driver in the United States Army. In December of 1958, after discharging from active Army duty, Phil moved his wife Kathy, daughter Jeania and son Rodney to Sacramento to begin his 38-year career with Sacramento Regional Transit as a bus driver, road supervisor, dispatcher and ultimately assistant transportation manager before retiring in February of 1997.

It was at Sacramento Regional Transit that Phil met and soon married the love of his life and second wife, Helen, on April 16, 1977. He was a loving and devoted husband and father supporting Helen and his twin daughters, Aluvia and Adevia, in their many interests of Rainbow Girls, musicals, Scottish Highland Games, schooling, 4-H, raising Guide Dog puppies, marching band and hosting foreign exchange students. Phil and Helen enjoyed Precious Moments, attending national and world figure skating competitions and exhibitions, traveling and Phil’s hobby of outdoor photography.

Phil was Helen’s, Aluvia’s and Adevia’s hero, rock and teddy bear and will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.