Kenneth Paul Travis

Kenneth P Travis was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on December 7, 1937. He grew up and went to school there. He joined the Navy at 17 and served during the waning months of The Korean War.

He spent the 2 years of his first enlistment at sea. He reenlisted for 6 years and went on 30 day leave and spent the leave with a shipmate and family in Montclair where they spent the time introducing him to a variety of young ladies.

One afternoon while in the yard, a neighbor drove by. Ken asked to be introduced to her. She was invited down for the introduction and they hit it off quite well. Ten days later on August 2, 1958 they were married.

Approximately 2 weeks later, Ken left for a 2 year tour on a ship based in Sasebo Japan. The following May 1959, Patsy joined him for the balance of 15 months. On June 15, 1960, their first child, a son, was born in Japan. 6 weeks later, Ken, Patsy and Kenneth P. Travis Jr. boarded the USS Mann to return to the USA. Ken was stationed on a ship based in Alameda, CA, where a series of transfers to other ships. Ken was transferred to Long Beach, CA to recommission a ship. Shortly after Ken and family were transferred to San Diego, CA, where on April 8, 1962 their 2nd child, a son, Brett Allen Travis was born.

Finally, one evening Ken and several other men were headed out of the gate, discharge’s in hand where they were turned around at the gate and returned to other ships. The Cuban Missile Crisis had started. After several months they were allowed to call and let us know they were ok. At the end of that, Ken was finally discharged in San Francisco, CA. After discharge, Ken began working in construction with Patsy’s stepfather and brother. Over the next few years he worked in construction and we lived in a variety of rental houses and apartments. The loans for building homes etc; were halted by the Federal Government, so Ken was out of work for a good while.

On October 22, 1965, our 3rd son, Brian Keith Travis was born in Upland, CA. A short time later Ken went to work in a machine shop. After an accident that left him flat on his back for a year and a few months, Ken went to work for Guy Johns, at Upland Fab. After 40 years working there, Ken retired in 2010 at age 72.

On August 27, 2012, just 25 days after their 54th wedding anniversary, a very happy 54 years, Pat lost Ken at San Antonio Hospital