Owen Allen Banton, age 77 of Guthrie, KY, passed away Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at Jennie Stuart Medical Center in Hopkinsville, KY, after an extended illness. A celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 17, 2012 at Latham Funeral Home in Elkton, KY. The Reverend Stephen Childers from Guthrie Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery in Guthrie, Kentucky. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Friday and from 11 a.m. until the hour of service on Saturday at the funeral home. Mr. Banton was born September 4, 1935 in Allensville, KY, and was preceded in death by his parents, Mervin and Johnnie Kathleen Banton; his wife of thirty-six years, Dorothy Anne Strange Banton and a brother, Robert Lindal Banton. Mr. Banton worked for many years at the Montgomery County Farmer's Co-op, Clarksville, in the fertilizer department. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, having served four years as a load master in the Middle East and Europe during the 1950's. He was a life-long, fan of The Kentucky Wildcats and had enjoyed playing basketball in his youth. He was a member of the Allensville United Methodist Church and attended Guthrie Baptist Church. Survivors include two daughters, Kimberly Anne Wofford (Mark) of Adams, TN and Kathryn Evelyn Smith (Bryan) of Guthrie, KY; four grandchildren, Rachel Anne Wofford, Sydney Hope Wofford, Chelsea Noel Smith and Clayton Allen Smith; three sisters, Dorothy Jean Lambert of La Jolla, CA, Wanda Shelton (Bobby) of Hopkinsville, KY and Sherry Rust (Gaylon) of Elkton, KY; one brother, Morrie K. (Sonny) Banton (Dorothy) of Allensville, KY. Pallbearers will be Paul Banton, Chad Campbell, Sammy W. Gilliam, Tim Shelton, Clay Smith and Ricky Suddeath. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, Guthrie Baptist Church, P.O. Box 447, Guthrie, KY 42234. Latham Funeral Home (Published in The Leaf Chronicle on November 16, 2012)