Travis Dennis

A truly kind and gentle soul left this world today with a wink and a smile. His legendary sense of humor never left him and his sweetness and thoughtfulness were part of his personality until the end. Travis Eugene Dennis, 91, quietly departed this earth at home, the way he wished, on Wednesday morning, January 27, 2016. He was born in May, Texas on Aug. 12, 1924, the son of Maude Elizabeth Killion and Grover Cleveland Dennis.

Travis proudly served his country in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a radio operator flying C-47s for troop and supply transport with the 439th Troop Carrier Group. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge, the Jump Across the Rhine, and Operation Market Garden, and supplied Patton’s army with fuel. At the end of the war, Travis was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sgt.

Following the war, Travis attended TCU, where he graduated with a degree in accounting. He worked for Kay Kimball before he and Jeanette shoved a mattress on top of their car and headed off to Washington, D.C., where he obtained a Master’s degree in theology at Andrews University. Following graduation, he undertook post-graduate studies in history at the University of Virginia. Travis taught accounting and religious studies at Shenandoah Valley Academy in Virginia and then served in various ministerial posts throughout Oklahoma and Texas.

Travis was married to Jeanette Hargis from May 31, 1947 to Dec. 25, 1980 and they had two children together: Rebecca and Robert. He and Naomi Korgan were married on Nov. 19, 1988 in Grandview, Texas.

Travis was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Jeanette Hargis Dennis; one sister and five brothers. He is survived by his wife, Naomi Dennis of Cleburne; sons, Robert Dennis of Cleburne and Robert Whitford and his wife Kelly of Austin, Texas; daughters, Becky Lao and husband, Philip, of Houston, Texas, Kalleen Whitford of Cleburne, and Vanessa Bowles and her husband Wayne of Burleson, Texas; sister, Nelda Burt and husband Frank of Blum, Texas; and grandchild, Christopher Lao.

Funeral services for Travis Eugene Dennis will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016 at the Cleburne Seventh-day Adventist Church, 111 Meadow View Dr., Cleburne, Texas. Burial will follow in Keene Memorial Park Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Christopher Lao, Jordan Bowles, Johnny Dennis, Kirk Dennis, Michael Sullivan, Philip Lao, Brody Smith, and Robert Whitford.

Travis loved music, baseball, and jokes, holding babies, reading to children, and gardening. He will be remembered for making the best home-made ice cream (sometimes out of snow!), baking wonderful pecan pies, and entertaining family, friends, and students with his crazy alter ego, “Cuzin Armadilla.” Perhaps his story–that of the little boy who grew up walking behind a mule and pushing a plow on his father’s farm who then went to Europe as a young man fighting for his country, later achieving success in college–is similar to that of many others who fought in World War II. But it is made unique by the gifts he left his family: his sterling character, integrity, and honesty. Truly, he epitomized the “greatest generation.” He was famous for saying, “I’m glad you got to see me today.” We’re glad that we got to see you, and know you, too.

Memorials may be made to Mission Hospice, 505 N. Ridgeway Drive, Ste. 173, Cleburne, TX 76033.