Dolores M. Bixler Bankert, 87, of Westminster, died Saturday, May 11, 2024 at Golden Crest Assisted Living. Born January 21, 1937 in Hanover, PA, she was the daughter of the late Charles Willard Bixler and Elsie Mae Hook Bixler. She was the loving wife of the late George Raymond Bankert, who died December 24, 2019. They were married June 8, 1958.

She graduated from Westminster High School in 1955, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, Girls Athletic Board, Future Teachers Club and the chorus. She enjoyed attending sporting events at WHS, watching her son and daughter in the Owl Band. She also enjoyed watching nephews and nieces’ games of football, soccer, basketball and lacrosse. Following graduation from WHS, she graduated from Baltimore Business College and began employment at Joseph L. Mathias & Sons, where she worked for five years; then became employed in the law office of Marker J. Lovell, Attorney, for 38 years. During employment at the Mathias firm, she helped F. Kale Mathias organize and prepare for Westminster’s annual Memorial Day parades and ceremonies. Her greatest joy was getting together with school friends, Shirley, Donna and Nancy and with all of her extended family for holidays and picnics. Singing most of her life, as a young person with her sisters at service clubs and events and in the church choir, she eventually became a charter member of the Carroll County Choral Society organized in 1970 under the direction of Herb Sell and served as treasurer for 33 years. She was a member of Zion United Methodist Church of Shipley since 1952, a life-long member of the Sunday School, served as treasurer of the Methodist Youth Fellowship for 12 years, served as treasurer of the Zion United Methodist Women since 1960, Sunday School superintendent since 1970, lay leader, newsletter editor and council secretary. She was a member of the Venture Club of Westminster 1958-1960 and member and treasurer of the Westminster High School Band Boosters from 1976 to 1981. She grew up in the community of Shipley and one of her greatest joys was to serve her church in any capacity she was asked to do. She enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Canada, being a member of the No Problem Travel Club and she enjoyed her flowers and gardens.

Surviving are children Michael L. Bankert and John Tease of San Leandro, CA and Lori Szeliga and David of Clarksville; grandsons Tommy and Billy Szeliga; numerous cousins and numerous nieces and nephews (including the “Eight is Enough” gang), great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by sisters Carol Bixler Head and Janet Hollinger, nephew Craig Hollinger, brothers-in-law Russell K. Mills, Jr. and Marvin Hollinger and sister-in-law Barbara Mills.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, May 16, 2024 from 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 p.m. at Fletcher Funeral & Cremation Services, 254 East Main Street, Westminster, MD. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 17, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home, with Rev. YuJung Hwang officiating and Marianne K. Sickles co-officiating . Interment will follow in Zion UMC Cemetery of Shipley.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Zion United Methodist Church of Shipley, c/o Linda Wandel, 2714-16 Old Washington Road, Westminster, MD 21157.