Mr. George Russell Banta, 69, of Live Oak, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 31, 2018 at the Lake City VA Medical Center Hospice Unit after an extended illness. He was born in Morehead, KY on December 7, 1948 to the late Melvin Russell Banta and Olive Blanche Bledsoe Banta. He has made Live Oak his home for the last ten years, moving here from the Brooksville, Florida area. He was a United States Marine Veteran, and worked for Bell South/AT&T for over 25 years as a lineman. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting; he had his own hunting camp in the Live Oak area and loved to fish. He was the creator of the "Manly Man Club".

He is survived by his loving wife of 25 years; Ilene Banta of Live Oak; daughter; Gina Rose Tubbs (Daniel) of Plantation, FL; step-sons; Jason Pearce (Samantha) of California, Justin Pearce (Cassidy) of Tennessee and Bobby Baker; step-daughter; Virginia Watson of Live Oak; sister; Juanita Cox (Benjamin) of Marietta, GA. Grandchildren; Hayden, Dylan and Jordan Tubbs, Andrew, Clayton, Kalin and Tyler Jankowski and Aviana Pearce; great-grandchildren; Kailee and Tristen Jankowski along with several nieces and nephews also survive.

Military memorial services will be conducted on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 1:00 P.M. in the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL. Inurnment will follow in the National Cemetery Columbarium.