Obituary of Michael Banda

Michael "Mike" Banda, 96, of Tampa, FL, passed away on October 14, 2023.

Born in 1927 in East Pittsburgh, PA, he was the son of John Banda and Mary Bassara Banda. He graduated in 1944 from Turtle Creek High School, Turtle Creek, PA, where he was the captain of the 1944 basketball team and vice president of his senior class. He served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Pacific theater and retired from engineering management at the Elliott Company in Jeannette, PA, after a 36-year professional career. He served as president of the Elliott Company Management Club, was licensed as a professional engineer in the state of Pennsylvania, and was a lifetime member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering. His Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering was earned at the Indiana Institute of Technology in Fort Wayne, IN, where he also was a varsity member of the university's baseball team. Throughout his life, he was an avid golfer.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Burnadette Cargo Banda, daughter of Sarah Callaghan Cargo and Milford "Mo" Cargo, entrepreneurs who built a multi-store retail grocery business in the Turtle Creek Valley and who started a holiday candy business eventually expanded in to Cargo Candy by their son, Jack. Also preceded in death by his sister, Mildred Banda Pfrogner, and his son-in-law, Thomas W. Purvis. Survivors include his son, John (Nancy) Banda, his daughter, Sarah Purvis, three grandchildren, Jillian (Brian) Holmes, Joseph Banda, Jack (Morgan) Banda, and four great-grandchildren.

Graveside service will be at 10:30 am, Monday, November 6th, at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Ave., Bushnell, FL. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to LifePath Hospice, 12470 Telecom Drive, Suite 301, Temple Terrace, FL 33637.