Franka “Elaine” (Venable) Banning was born on April 25, 1925, in Pawnee, Oklahoma to Frank Venable and Ruth (Manning) Venable. She passed from this life on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, in Owasso, Oklahoma at the age of 100 years. Elaine was raised and educated in the Pawnee area and graduated with the Ralston High school Class of 1943. She was married the evening of December 31, 1943, in Abilene, Texas to Clarence Elton Banning. Elaine spent many years at home raising her two children. She began working outside the home after Clarence injured his back which limited his ability to work for a few months. She was employed for over 20 years as a seamstress for Munsingwear Corp and afterward, for several years she managed a men’s department store in Pawnee. Elaine also was a charter member of Masham Baptist Church. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, sewing, crocheting, knitting, and gardening. After retirement, for many years she made annual trips to Branson, MO where she and her husband Clarence enjoyed many of the folk style music shows and the craft work displays at Silver Dollar City.
In November 2011, she endured quadruple bypass surgery on her heart. Her doctor asked her, because of her age, if she was willing to risk the procedure. She looked up at her daughter and then turned to her doctor and staunchly replied “Let’s do it”! She then said “I want to live to 100 so I can aggravate my daughter.”

Elaine is survived by:
Her Children;
Lina Vance and husband Jay of Owasso, OK
Carl Banning and wife Wanda of Garrett, IN
Grandchildren;
Jeff Vance of Flower Mound, TX
Jason Vance and wife Mindy of Katy, TX
Great Grandchildren;
Aaron and Aidan Allen, Parker and Whitt Vance, and Autumn Chester
Great Great Grandchildren;
Bailey and Blaze Chester
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Ruth Venable, husband, Clarence Banning, brother, Neil Venable, and her granddaughter, Carla Allen.
Franka “Elaine” Banning April 25, 1925 – November 4, 2025




