Lea Ann (Ward) Banner

Lea Ann (Ward) Banner, age 61, passed away from her 9-year battle with colon cancer on February 16.

However, cancer was never a death sentence for Lea, but rather, a call to live in the present and to visit Barcelona, Venice, Istanbul, Alaska, Panama, Costa Rica, and more, while spending the last five winters in Scottsdale, Arizona. Even before her diagnosis, Lea received her Bachelors of Arts in Education at Clarion University in 1973, and was an active member and president of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority. She furthered her undergraduate studies at the University of Valencia, Spain and soon thereafter became a member of the Copley-Fairlawn Schools Teaching Team. She was an educator for 35 years in the fields of Spanish and Computer Science, and served as a President of the Copley Teacher's Association for numerous years. She also received her Masters in Computer Based Education from University of Akron.

Lea was also very dedicated to her family. Her parents were Rosalie (Price) and James Ward of Glen Richey, Pa., where she was born on January 14, 1952. She was also a graduate of Clearfield Area High School in 1969. She met her husband of 39 years, Larry Banner, while teaching down the hall from each other at Copley Junior High School. They had two daughters, Lani Banner, who followed in her footsteps to become an educator in the Hudson City School District, and Carey Banner, who is a Consultant with PriceWaterhouse Coopers in Los Angeles, California. Lea's sister, Lesa (Ward) Rowles, married to Eric Rowles, was not only a sister to her, but also her best friend; her nephew and niece, Zachary and Emily Rowles, were her "third and fourth" children. Her older brother, Leslie Ward, married to Barbara Ward, survives her; however, her younger brother, Larry, passed away in 2009. Numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, nephews, grandkitties, and friends also survive her.

Calling Hours will be at Billows FAIRLAWN CHAPEL, 85 N. Miller Road in Fairlawn from 4:30 to 9 p.m., Monday, February 18th. A private family inurnment will occur at Moore's Chapel Cemetery in Bath, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted in her name to the Copley Fairlawn City Schools Scholarship Foundation at 3797 Ridgewood Road, Copley, Ohio 44321.

The family would like to offer their sincere gratitude to Dr. John Petrus and staff at the oncology department at Akron General Hospital, as well as the Visiting Nurse Services and Hospice Care.