Travis Claude Thompson, 96, passed from this life on January 18, 2015 at Bandera Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Bandera, TX. He was born on March 21, 1918 in Lipan, Texas to Lee and Linnie Belle Thompson. He was the eldest of 6 children.
Amidst the Great Depression and early in his education, he left school to assist his dad with farming to support the family. Travis had a brilliant mind and his self-taught education in electricity and radio electronics led him to become head of radar repair in Civil Service at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX from which he retired in 1973. After retirement, he and Marie moved from San Antonio, TX to Bandera, TX where he became resident manager at Bandina Christian Youth Camp.
His lifelong love of the wonder of electronics gained him many levels of certification as a Ham Radio Operator and his “handle”, K5RZD, is known by many throughout the country. Travis was honored by President Ronald Reagan for his provision of communication through Ham Radio for several days during the search and rescue operations as a result of the flood of 1978 at Camp Bandina.
Travis also had a love of music. He was an accomplished and, once again, self-taught musician. He played a variety of instruments but most enjoyed his guitars. He entertained many times for the community and for events at Camp with what came to be known as his “One Man Band”, which was a homemade combination of instruments including guitar, drum and harmonica. He had a beautiful tenor voice and lead congregational singing for over 50 years.
He served as an Elder for the South San church of Christ from 1965 to 1975. In 1976 he became an Elder for the Stringtown Road church of Christ in Medina, TX. He served honorably until he was of 90 yrs old. Travis led many to Christ by his example, wisdom and knowledge of God’s word in teaching both youth and adult Bible classes. His love for God and His handiwork of creation brought great joy to his long life.
Travis married his lifetime love, Marie Underwood, on January 3, 1942 in Fluvanna, TX. They were happily married and a true example to many for 73 years.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Marie, of Bandera, TX; his children, Marie Campbell and husband, Joe, of San Antonio, TX; Marty Jost and husband, Jim, of Hunt, TX; and Judy Judkins and husband, Robert, of Midland, TX; one sister, Ramona Pope, of Arlington, TX; grandchildren, Mike Gillaspia and wife, Shannon, of Portland, TX, Steven Gillaspia of Denver, CO, Brenda Beachy and husband, Brian, of Wakefield, KS, Tarah Judkins of Midland, TX, and Jason Campbell and wife, Tracy, of San Antonio, TX; 5 great-grandchildren; plus extended family and a host of friends who loved him.
Travis was preceded in death by his parents, Lee & Linnie Belle Thompson, brothers, Sanford, W.H. “Dub”, Waylon and Coy Lee Thompson.
A tribute to Travis’s life will be held at Grimes Funeral Chapels, 1214 Mulberry, Bandera, TX, on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 10 AM. Burial will follow at Oak Rest Cemetery in Medina, TX.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Bandina Christian Youth Camp, or to Stringtown Road Church of Christ or to a memorial of your choice.
Amidst the Great Depression and early in his education, he left school to assist his dad with farming to support the family. Travis had a brilliant mind and his self-taught education in electricity and radio electronics led him to become head of radar repair in Civil Service at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX from which he retired in 1973. After retirement, he and Marie moved from San Antonio, TX to Bandera, TX where he became resident manager at Bandina Christian Youth Camp.
His lifelong love of the wonder of electronics gained him many levels of certification as a Ham Radio Operator and his “handle”, K5RZD, is known by many throughout the country. Travis was honored by President Ronald Reagan for his provision of communication through Ham Radio for several days during the search and rescue operations as a result of the flood of 1978 at Camp Bandina.
Travis also had a love of music. He was an accomplished and, once again, self-taught musician. He played a variety of instruments but most enjoyed his guitars. He entertained many times for the community and for events at Camp with what came to be known as his “One Man Band”, which was a homemade combination of instruments including guitar, drum and harmonica. He had a beautiful tenor voice and lead congregational singing for over 50 years.
He served as an Elder for the South San church of Christ from 1965 to 1975. In 1976 he became an Elder for the Stringtown Road church of Christ in Medina, TX. He served honorably until he was of 90 yrs old. Travis led many to Christ by his example, wisdom and knowledge of God’s word in teaching both youth and adult Bible classes. His love for God and His handiwork of creation brought great joy to his long life.
Travis married his lifetime love, Marie Underwood, on January 3, 1942 in Fluvanna, TX. They were happily married and a true example to many for 73 years.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Marie, of Bandera, TX; his children, Marie Campbell and husband, Joe, of San Antonio, TX; Marty Jost and husband, Jim, of Hunt, TX; and Judy Judkins and husband, Robert, of Midland, TX; one sister, Ramona Pope, of Arlington, TX; grandchildren, Mike Gillaspia and wife, Shannon, of Portland, TX, Steven Gillaspia of Denver, CO, Brenda Beachy and husband, Brian, of Wakefield, KS, Tarah Judkins of Midland, TX, and Jason Campbell and wife, Tracy, of San Antonio, TX; 5 great-grandchildren; plus extended family and a host of friends who loved him.
Travis was preceded in death by his parents, Lee & Linnie Belle Thompson, brothers, Sanford, W.H. “Dub”, Waylon and Coy Lee Thompson.
A tribute to Travis’s life will be held at Grimes Funeral Chapels, 1214 Mulberry, Bandera, TX, on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 10 AM. Burial will follow at Oak Rest Cemetery in Medina, TX.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Bandina Christian Youth Camp, or to Stringtown Road Church of Christ or to a memorial of your choice.
Travis Claude Thompson, 96, passed from this life on January 18, 2015 at Bandera Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Bandera, TX. He was born on March 21, 1918 in Lipan, Texas to Lee and Linnie Belle Thompson. He was the eldest of 6 children.
Amidst the Great Depression and early in his education, he left school to assist his dad with farming to support the family. Travis had a brilliant mind and his self-taught education in electricity and radio electronics led him to become head of radar repair in Civil Service at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX from which he retired in 1973. After retirement, he and Marie moved from San Antonio, TX to Bandera, TX where he became resident manager at Bandina Christian Youth Camp.
His lifelong love of the wonder of electronics gained him many levels of certification as a Ham Radio Operator and his “handle”, K5RZD, is known by many throughout the country. Travis was honored by President Ronald Reagan for his provision of communication through Ham Radio for several days during the search and rescue operations as a result of the flood of 1978 at Camp Bandina.
Travis also had a love of music. He was an accomplished and, once again, self-taught musician. He played a variety of instruments but most enjoyed his guitars. He entertained many times for the community and for events at Camp with what came to be known as his “One Man Band”, which was a homemade combination of instruments including guitar, drum and harmonica. He had a beautiful tenor voice and lead congregational singing for over 50 years.
He served as an Elder for the South San church of Christ from 1965 to 1975. In 1976 he became an Elder for the Stringtown Road church of Christ in Medina, TX. He served honorably until he was of 90 yrs old. Travis led many to Christ by his example, wisdom and knowledge of God’s word in teaching both youth and adult Bible classes. His love for God and His handiwork of creation brought great joy to his long life.
Travis married his lifetime love, Marie Underwood, on January 3, 1942 in Fluvanna, TX. They were happily married and a true example to many for 73 years.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Marie, of Bandera, TX; his children, Marie Campbell and husband, Joe, of San Antonio, TX; Marty Jost and husband, Jim, of Hunt, TX; and Judy Judkins and husband, Robert, of Midland, TX; one sister, Ramona Pope, of Arlington, TX; grandchildren, Mike Gillaspia and wife, Shannon, of Portland, TX, Steven Gillaspia of Denver, CO, Brenda Beachy and husband, Brian, of Wakefield, KS, Tarah Judkins of Midland, TX, and Jason Campbell and wife, Tracy, of San Antonio, TX; 5 great-grandchildren; plus extended family and a host of friends who loved him.
Travis was preceded in death by his parents, Lee & Linnie Belle Thompson, brothers, Sanford, W.H. “Dub”, Waylon and Coy Lee Thompson.
A tribute to Travis’s life will be held at Grimes Funeral Chapels, 1214 Mulberry, Bandera, TX, on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 10 AM. Burial will follow at Oak Rest Cemetery in Medina, TX.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Bandina Christian Youth Camp, or to Stringtown Road Church of Christ or to a memorial of your choice.
Amidst the Great Depression and early in his education, he left school to assist his dad with farming to support the family. Travis had a brilliant mind and his self-taught education in electricity and radio electronics led him to become head of radar repair in Civil Service at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX from which he retired in 1973. After retirement, he and Marie moved from San Antonio, TX to Bandera, TX where he became resident manager at Bandina Christian Youth Camp.
His lifelong love of the wonder of electronics gained him many levels of certification as a Ham Radio Operator and his “handle”, K5RZD, is known by many throughout the country. Travis was honored by President Ronald Reagan for his provision of communication through Ham Radio for several days during the search and rescue operations as a result of the flood of 1978 at Camp Bandina.
Travis also had a love of music. He was an accomplished and, once again, self-taught musician. He played a variety of instruments but most enjoyed his guitars. He entertained many times for the community and for events at Camp with what came to be known as his “One Man Band”, which was a homemade combination of instruments including guitar, drum and harmonica. He had a beautiful tenor voice and lead congregational singing for over 50 years.
He served as an Elder for the South San church of Christ from 1965 to 1975. In 1976 he became an Elder for the Stringtown Road church of Christ in Medina, TX. He served honorably until he was of 90 yrs old. Travis led many to Christ by his example, wisdom and knowledge of God’s word in teaching both youth and adult Bible classes. His love for God and His handiwork of creation brought great joy to his long life.
Travis married his lifetime love, Marie Underwood, on January 3, 1942 in Fluvanna, TX. They were happily married and a true example to many for 73 years.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Marie, of Bandera, TX; his children, Marie Campbell and husband, Joe, of San Antonio, TX; Marty Jost and husband, Jim, of Hunt, TX; and Judy Judkins and husband, Robert, of Midland, TX; one sister, Ramona Pope, of Arlington, TX; grandchildren, Mike Gillaspia and wife, Shannon, of Portland, TX, Steven Gillaspia of Denver, CO, Brenda Beachy and husband, Brian, of Wakefield, KS, Tarah Judkins of Midland, TX, and Jason Campbell and wife, Tracy, of San Antonio, TX; 5 great-grandchildren; plus extended family and a host of friends who loved him.
Travis was preceded in death by his parents, Lee & Linnie Belle Thompson, brothers, Sanford, W.H. “Dub”, Waylon and Coy Lee Thompson.
A tribute to Travis’s life will be held at Grimes Funeral Chapels, 1214 Mulberry, Bandera, TX, on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 10 AM. Burial will follow at Oak Rest Cemetery in Medina, TX.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Bandina Christian Youth Camp, or to Stringtown Road Church of Christ or to a memorial of your choice.
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