James W. Travis Obituary

James W. Travis
Loving Father

James W. Travis, 96, of 9284 Health Camp, Rd., Cuba passed away Sunday, August 31, 2014 at the Absolut at Houghton after a short illness.

Born on February 9, 1918, in Cameron Mills, NY he was a son of Bruce W. and Maude Saunders Travis. On February 5, 1949 he married the former Anna Elizabeth Dunning who predeceased him on June 3, 1990.

Jim grew up in Olean and graduated from Olean High School in 1936. He played the violin. He was a member of the Cuba United Methodist Church. He served in the United States Army from April 7, 1941 to November 29, 1945. He was proud of his service to his country during World War II as a member of the Third Field Artillery Observation Battalion in France as a radio operator, and he loved to tell stories about his task of locating enemy guns and collecting important intelligence for strategists at headquarters. While enlisted he served in Central Europe, Normandy and Northern France.

Jim graduated from Alfred Ag Tech in 1948, and worked as an Electrical Engineer for Acme Electric Corp. for 34 years, retiring in 1982.

He loved working around the house and yard, enjoyed reading, and making wood sculptures and walking sticks out of tree limbs and roots that he found in woods. Jim also enjoyed helping his son with the electronics shop in Cuba for several years, visiting with customers and ordering inventory. He loved his family and cats Shadow, Echo, and Sherlock.

Surviving are two sons, James B. Travis of Cuba, and Stephen (Gail) Travis of Jacksonville, FL.; two grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and five great great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents he was predeceased by a sister Roberta Cummins.

Graveside Services will be held on Friday, September 5, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. in the Cuba Cemetery, family and friends are encouraged to attend. The Rev. Timothy Gleason, pastor the Cuba United Methodist Church will officiate.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., Cuba. Online condolences may be sent by clicking on the button below.