Martin "Mike" Bankhead

Martin “Mike” White Bankhead passed away on June 9th, 2021 surrounded by his family.

Born on November 25th, 1929, Mike was 91 years old. Mike was a beloved son, brother, father, and grandfather. He was also a treasured husband to his wife Inge who passed before him in 2011.

Mike is survived by his son Martin "Marty" Bankhead, Marty's wife Kathy, and two grandchildren: Michael Bankhead and Diane Bankhead, and son-in-law Nick Gregston. He is survived by his two sisters: Ann Satterfield and Dot Wyatt. Mike is predeceased by his brother, Robert Bankhead.

Mike's life was an adventure. He was born in Browns Summit, North Carolina; it was a small town then and remains a small town now. However, Mike was not your typical small town man. He attended college at Virginia Tech, graduating with an engineering degree. He joined the army, graduating from Officer Candidate School, and then went on to serve for 4 years. He met his wife Inge while he was stationed in Germany. The two married on March 30th, 1957 and their son Marty was born the next year. Mike worked for various business units of Union Carbide and DOW Chemical for 35 years working his way up from Engineer, to Plant Manager, and then Managing Director.  Most of Mike's business career was spent overseas starting with a Plant Manager role in Kenya, followed by assignments in Iran, Nigeria, and finally Managing Director in Egypt.  Mike leaves behind many friends from around the world.

The adventures continued for Mike and Inge until the pair settled down to retire in Upper Tract, West Virginia, on a charming mountain farm. After 10 years in West Virginia, they moved to Texas to be close to their son and grandchildren. Mike and Inge were married for 54 years, only separated by Inge's passing. Mike cared for Inge as she neared the end of her life, in a way that was reminiscent of a Nicholas Sparks' book. He visited her in the Nursing home daily, fed her meals, brushed her hair, and picked out clothes for her in the styles she liked.  Inge's death ended her life, but it did not end their relationship. He continued cherishing the memory of her daily, sharing countless stories.

Mike had a beautiful and successful life; a life he worked hard for. He was the architect of his own success, but he also helped his son and grandchildren craft beautiful lives, lives they continue living to the fullest in his honor. While Mike's passing is sad, there is joy in knowing that he has been reunited with Inge.

The family appreciates the caring support of his dedicated caregivers at Brookdale Collin Oaks.