Reverend Roland Banes

Rev. Roland Banes was born in Camden NJ on April 12, 1905 to Matthew Banes and his wife, the former Louse Folesch. His father was a leather worker. The Banes family was living in the Eight Ward when the 1906 Camden City Directory was compiled, at 1641 Broadway. By 1910 the family had moved to North Camden, by 1910 at 828 North 3rd Street, and by 1914 at 916 North 3rd Street. The 1924 City Directory sows the family at 528 York Street. By 1929 Matthew Banes had passed away. Mrs. Banes subsequently moved to 915 North 4th Street, where she resided through at least the summer of 1933.

Rev. Banes graduated from the Gettysburg Academy in Gettysburg PA in 1926 with honors in Latin and four years later received his degree in philosophy at Gettysburg College. He was elected to Kappa Delta Rho National Fraterernity at Gettyshurg, and to the Sage Honorary Philosophical Society. He. was a member of the college dramatic and debating clubs and a member of the editorial staff of the “Gettysburgian,” student periodical. In May of 1933 he graduated from Gettysburg Theological Seminary and was subsequently ordained as a minister at the Muhlenberg Church in Philadelphia. His first post was assistant to Rev. Ross Stoven, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church, at Sixteenth and Jefferson Streets, Philadelphia.

In June of 1933 Reverend Banes married Dorothy Bowen. He was married by the Rev. Calvin P. Swank at the Muhlenberg Church in Philadelphia. Rev. Swank was pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Camden for 12 years before accepting the pastorate of the Philadelphia church.

Reverend Banes first led churches in Philadelphia, and Folcroft PA. By September of 1944 he was at Ferndale PA, near Easton in the 1930s and 1940s. He was still in Ferndale in 1951 when he took a position at Dillsburg Lutheran Church, near Gettysburg PA. He resigned in April of 1955 to accept the pastorate of First Lutheran Church in Lock Haven PA.

Reverend Banes, last a resident of Lock Haven PA, passed away on November 9, 1970. He was survived by his wife, Dorothy, son Bruce, brothers Raymond and Harry, and two sisters, Mrs. James Tomkins and Mrs. Ray Weber. His siblings were all still living in Camden at the time of Rev. Banes’ death.