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Travis Leonard Winfree, proud World War II veteran, joined his beloved son, Travis Keith, in the arms of their loving  Saviour on Saturday, June 12, 2021.

The second of three children born to Leonard and Cloie Winfree, Travis made his entrance into his Earthly home on September 18, 1924 in Hempstead, Texas in a small doctor's office located in the back of a local drugstore.

After he lived in Monaville, Texas for four years, his father got a new job in a grocery store and they loaded up the wagon and moved to Hempstead. He liked to jokingly say that it was his responsibility to jump out, check on the mules, and grease the wheels of the wagon every three miles along the way.

He began 1st grade in Hempstead as a student of Mrs. Alice Kelly.  He graduated from high school in 1942, having completed all his education in Hempstead.

Less than a year after Travis graduated from high school, he was drafted into the US Army, joining his older brother and uncle in service to his country. He completed his basic training at Camp Grant in Illinois, then was transferred to Camp Bowie in Brownwood, Texas before being sent to a staging area in New York to be shipped overseas. During this time, he received basic medical training and, due to having played the trumpet in school, was given the responsibility of being the sole bugler in his camp playing taps every night.

Travis was a member of the 29th Infantry Division in the United States Army. He spent 28 months serving his country and earned four battle stars during his time in World War 2: The Battle of Normandy, The Battle of the Bulge, Ardennes, and Rhineland.

His time in the service  continued to be a big part of who he was. He returned to Normandy seven times for the anniversary of D-Day and received a special invitation to meet the Queen. He was awarded the French Legion of Honour, France's highest order of merit. He organized and held three Army reunions at his home which included days of touring and trips to sports games in the Astrodome. Members of the 32nd General Hospital Unit flew in from all over the United States to attend.

Travis was a true patriot. He collected all things related to World War II and it was important to him that people remembered those who sacrificed for our freedom. He was a longstanding member of the VFW and the American Legion, serving in multiple capacities through the years. In more recent years, he diligently worked to organize a parade and event for Memorial Day, saying "People don't appreciate Memorial Day like they should." It was important to him that these men and women did not die in vain. He loved his country and everyone knew when he was driving through town by the flags flying proudly on his car. One of his last big accomplishments was serving on the committee that moved the Waller County Veterans Memorial from merely a dream to a reality.

After 28 months serving his country, Travis returned home, married, and started his family.  He was a devoted husband and father to his son Travis Keith. He went to work in the family grocery business, opening Winfree's Supermarket in 1954.  Over the next 40 years, he proudly needed to add on to the store three different times. During his career as a grocer, he served in various leadership roles in the Greater Houston Area Grocers' Association. He was a member of the Gulf Coast Grocery Association of Texas Hall of Fame from 1963 until 1995.  He never met a stranger and greeted each of his customers and employees with the enthusiasm of a long-lost friend. Many many young men and women of Hempstead fondly remember their first job working for Mr. Winfree.

Once Travis decided it was time to retire from the grocery business, he quickly discovered that he was incapable of being idle. At 70 years old, he attended school to get his realtor's license and began a new career at Coldwell Banker in Waller. This was perfect for him as it gave him the opportunity to be out and about in the community that he loved. Because of his dedication and enthusiasm, he was named the top salesman for 15 years in a row.

Travis loved his community and would do anything he could to help. As a Hempstead Alumni, he gave back to the school by organizing buses for play-off games, helping purchase new band uniforms, contributing toward school trips, and establishing  the Travis Keith Winfree Memorial Scholarship. In 1980, he was presented with the Human Relations Award from the Waller County Teachers Association.

In addition to his contributions directly to school activities, he was a strong supporter of the youth of his community in other ways. He purchased many Grand Champion show animals from young men and women at the County Fair auction. He also sponsored multiple Little League teams throughout the years.

Travis was a lifetime member of the Waller County Go Texan Committee and enjoyed hosting kick off events for ticket sales. He worked diligently to arrange a Waller County Day at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, then chartered buses for 400 people to attend.

Travis was a member of the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce and was passionate about the  economic development of Waller County. He was a member of the Waller County Hospital Board and traveled all over the United States in order to bring quality medical care to Hempstead. He also initiated the construction of the Keith Winfree Memorial Clinic in Hempstead in 1982.  He diligently worked to negotiate deals to bring businesses to the area. August 11, 1990 was proclaimed "Travis Winfree Day" by the City of Hempstead. Travis was presented with the Key to the City during a ceremony in which he was given the Outstanding Community Leadership Award. He was a charter member of the Hempstead Lions Club and was honored to receive the Distinguished Service Award. He continued to be active in his community as a member of the Hempstead Historic Preservation Board and the Hempstead Commerce and Civic Association. Travis was awarded the Community Builder Award by the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas for his dedicated service to his community.

When asked about  how and why he did so much, he humbly responded "I guess I've been a giver all my life. I don't know where it all came from." He then quickly gave God the glory for providing the resources.

He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Hempstead where he  sang in the choir, served as Chairman of the Board,  as well as serving on various committees through the years and was instrumental in helping multiple youth attend church camp. He was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting the Holy Land, walking in the Dead Sea, and wading in the River Jordan. Another particularly moving experience that he spoke of often was participating in the Walk to Emmaus and was inspired to sponsor others to share in this Christian walk.

Travis' travels were extensive, visiting 47 states as well as numerous European countries, gathering lifelong friends along the way.

Travis never did anything small. Once he put his mind to something, he did everything in his power to make it happen. If he saw a need, he worked to fix it. If you were his friend, you were his friend for life and he considered everyone to be his friend.

Even through all of his community involvement, Travis always had time for his family, enjoying every moment possible with his siblings, nieces, and nephews. In 1985, he married Susan Winfree, and accepted her family as his own as well. Family gatherings were extremely important to him and he enjoyed attending all of the many activities his grandchildren participated in. He was truly loved and will be missed by all who were blessed to be a part of his life.

Travis is preceded in death by:

• Son, Travis Keith Winfree
• Parents, Leonard and Cloie Winfree
• Siblings, Hartwell (Major) Winfree and wife Helen, and Juanita Shive and husband Willie Ross Shive
• Granddaughter, Nicolette Huebotter
• Great Nephew, Jeffrey Dixon

Survived by:

• Devoted wife of 36 years, Susan Winfree
• "Step" children: Renee (Neal) Huebotter, Steven (Alana)  Isaacks, and Kevin (Ali) Isaacks
• Grandchildren: Scott (Hannah) Isaacks, Michaela (Klinton) Krus, Alexandra (Tyler) Prihoda, Bailey (Macy) Isaacks, Zackery Isaacks, Benjamen Isaacks, and Grace Isaacks
• Great grandchildren: Kinsley, Ryder, and Elizabeth Prihoda
• Nieces: Cynthia Todd, Marcy (Chuck) Frede, Bonnie Lokey, Lynda (Don) Dixon
• A multitude of great nieces and nephews, family, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First United Methodist Church of Hempstead or VFW Post 4007.