Jesse H. Travis

Jesse H. Travis, of Chester, Va., died December 1, 2003, at John Randolph Hospital. Mr. Travis was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in July of 1913. He was the son of the late Mortimer J. and Martha P. Cook Travis. Mr. Travis served in the U.S. Army in World War II and the Korean War. In addition to his many service ribbons, he was a recipient of the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge. He was the first permanent employee in the Quartermaster Museum at Fort Lee in 1954 and he was instrumental in its establishment. Once retired from the military, he remained at the museum as a civilian employee until 1977. Because of his work in the museum and his extensive knowledge of military quartermaster history, he was elected as a Fellow in the Company of Military Historians. He was a member of First Christian Church in Hopewell as well as a member of the Hopewell Optimists Club from 1963 to the present being elected twice as its president. Mr. Travis is survived by his wife, Gisela; daughter, Gloria Thompson and her husband, Mickey; and grandchildren, David Thompson and Jennifer Thompson Lenz and her husband, Brad. He had 2 great-grandchildren who shared his love for singing, Madison and Mallory Lenz. Mr. Travis is also survived by a sister, Martha Houck of Bridgewater, N.J. Mr. Travis was preceded in death by his son, Walter Travis; a brother, John Travis; and a sister, Ruth Best. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the First Christian Church, 203 N. 11th Ave., in Hopewell. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Woo Daves and Frances Holland Group Home for the Mentally Challenged at New Jerusalem Fellowship Church, P. O. Box 212, Prince George, Va. 23875, and the Bensley-Bermuda Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 4015, Chester, Va. 23831.