Harold Traxler

Not much is known about his early years and there are no photos. He told his family that his family home burned down some time in his youth. However, from 1948 to 1951 he was a plant manager at Bryant Ice Cream Company in Greenville, Mississippi. The job must have been rough because he never ate ice cream again for the rest of his life.

Three days after his 18th birthday in 1951, he joined the United States Air Force in Columbus Mississippi, before completing high school.

Around 1951-1952, while on temporary duty (TDY) in Roswell, New Mexico, Trax met Barbara Lee Harter, an Indiana native. Romance ensued and they were married in 1953. Trax made the grand gesture of sending Barbara her engagement ring while he was on duty in Guam.

Over the next 20 years of his enlistment, Trax and Barbara moved with his Air Force assignments to at least eight U.S. bases and two overseas assignments at Brize Norton AFB in England and Karamürsel AFB in Turkey. They added four daughters to their family, Tracy Ann (1956), Terry Ellyn (1960), Julie Lee (1961) and Kathryn Leslie (1968).

During the 1960s, Trax worked hard at expanding his education, completing his GED and coursework in electronics, radio and television servicing and precision measurement through Air University, the Armed Forces Institute, the American Institute of Engineering & Technology and the University of Maryland, European Division.

In 1967 he was selected as “Outstanding Airman of the 2nd Bombardment Wing for 1966,” an honor he earned over 3,000 fellow airmen, while stationed at Barksdale AFB. At the time he was head of the Precision Measurement & Equipment lab at the base. He was nominated for “Outstanding Airman of the Year for 1966” – an Air Force-wide honor.

In 1971, at age 38 and the rank of Senior Master Sergeant, Trax retired from the Air Force. He joined the University of Texas at Austin, heading up the university’s electrical engineering lab. After this second 20-year career, he retired from the university in 1991.

Trax’s wife, Barbara, predeceased him in 2010. He is survived by his four daughters, Tracy Sullivan, Terry Hansen, Julie Hill and Kathryn Weston. In addition, Trax enjoyed the growing-up years of eight grandchildren: Brandon Sullivan, Paul Sullivan, Shannon (Roth) Atkins, Bryan Roth, Will Radle, Desirae Hill, Devin Hill and Kimberly Weston. His family also includes 11 great-grandchildren: Tobias Sullivan, Samuel Sullivan, Elaine Sullivan, Lauryn Sullivan, Kadin Gonzalez, Adrian Atkins, Jaxon Atkins, Abigail Roth, Aiden Roth, Bexley Roth and Jordyn Hill.

A Celebration of Life for Trax will be held on Friday, July 7, 2023 at 1:00 pm at VFW Post #4443, 7614 Thomas Springs Rd. Austin, TX 78736.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests you make a contribution on Trax’s behalf to the Air Force Museum Foundation or to a charity of your choice.