William Bill V. Travis passed away at Harbor Hospice on July 12, 2011 at the age of 85. Bill was born in Chattanooga, TN on April 18, 1926. Bill served in the US Army Air Corps during WWII. He returned to Port Arthur where he continued his education, graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1947.
On March 14, 1947 he married his beloved wife, Deloris Duhon Travis whom preceded him in death. They were married for 56 years and together raised five beautiful children. He once wrote, ?I had more fun raising our five children than they had growing up.? Bill was very active in the Boys Scouts of America earning the ?Silver Beaver? and then to PTA earning a Gold Leaf ?Life Membership?. Bill was an active Member of the Beaumont Yacht Club, Past Commander of the Beaumont Power Squadron - District 21 earning 35 Merit Marks ?Life Membership?, Charter Member # 48 of the AGLCA American Great Loop Cruisers? Association - Listed as ?Completed?.
Bill was retired from Travis Brothers Supply, Inc. which he co-owned with his belated wife. After retirement, Bill and Deloris traveled the rivers and bayous of the central and eastern United States and is well known for his navigational abilities. They together made the Great Loop of the United States in 1992 and after that, on smaller excursions, to Three Rivers Stadium to watch a baseball game and eat a hot dog.
He was predeceased by his parents, Vester Knox Travis and Ella Smithson Travis; brother, Charles Travis; sisters, Allora Smith, Marie Patterson and Irene Elmendorf; son, David J. Travis; and his wife, Kathleen.
He leaves behind his sons, Daniel G. Travis, Clayton D. Travis and his wife, Carol, both of Beaumont; daughters, Brenda L. Travis, of Nederland, and Jennie M. Ware and her husband, Richard ?Ricky?, of Woodville; sister, Kolene Sewell, of Colorado Springs, CO; brothers, Vernon Travis and wife, Dorothy, of Burleson, TX, and Ronald Travis and wife, Nicki, of Nederland.
He also leaves behind his thirteen grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren whom loved and adored him as ?Big Daddy?, numerous nieces, nephews, many friends and his beloved dog ?Beaux?.
Visitation will be held Friday, July 15, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home, 1155 N. 11th Street, Beaumont, Texas with services to be held on Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Vernon Travis officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens, 3098 Highway 69 N, Nederland, Texas.