Donald Merle Travis

    Donald Merle Travis, 73, died at his home in Corinth, Texas, on January 12, 2026.

    He was born October 10, 1952, in Indiana, PA to Garnet “Colleen” Enterline and Elmo “Flip” Travis. Donald graduated from Dayton High School in 1970 where he was a member of the basketball and soccer teams, the band, the chorus, and the science club. He enrolled at Indiana University of Pennsylvania with the intent to major in Business Management, where he met his future wife, Arlene Bubrik. The couple got married in Key West, Florida, on June 24,1972.

     Donald enlisted in the United States Navy in January of 1972. He spent the majority of his enlistment serving on the nuclear fast-attack submarine USS Sturgeon (SSN-637) as a sonar technician. For his last year in the Navy, he served on the USS Orion (AS-18). As the Leading First Class Petty Officer of the sonar repair shop, he was responsible for maintenance of all sonar systems on submarines attached to the USS Orion and Submarine Squadrons Four and Six. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Petty Officer First Class on January 26, 1978.

    Donald and Arlene briefly moved back to the Travis family farm, Mahoning Valley Farms, in Smicksburg, PA. They then moved to Lake Dallas, Texas, in 1979 when Donald got a job at Texas Instruments as an Electronic Engineering Design Technician. Their daughter, Georgeanne, was born in 1984. Donald finished his Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Science at North Texas State University in Denton, Texas, in 1988, graduating Cum Laude. He was a member of the Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society. He retired from Collins Aerospace in 2022, where he worked as a Principal Project Engineer.

    In his free time, Donald enjoyed playing guitar, listening to music, and going to his daughter’s concerts and other performances. He also enjoyed golfing, talking about all things Pittsburgh sports with his friend Shawn Legas, and tormenting his friend Richard Wick about the Dallas Cowboys.

    Donald is preceded in death by his parents, aunts, and uncles.

    He is survived by his wife, Arlene; his daughter, Georgeanne; his sisters Suzanne and Judith; his brother Michael; his uncle Donald Lloyd; and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.

    A private family service will be held at the family farm in Smicksburg, PA at a later date.

    Donations to the United States Navy Undersea Museum Foundation in Donald’s memory are greatly appreciated.