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Medford Jones Travers
Posted 2/11/08
Lt. Col. Medford Jones Travers WOOLFORD - Lt. Col. Medford Jones "Buck" Travers, 79, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008, at Dorchester General Hospital in Cambridge. Born Feb. 25, 1928, he was the son of …
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Medford Jones Travers
Posted
Lt. Col. Medford Jones Travers
WOOLFORD - Lt. Col. Medford Jones "Buck" Travers, 79, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008, at Dorchester General Hospital in Cambridge.
Born Feb. 25, 1928, he was the son of the late Carl Otto Travers and Nellie Jones Travers.
Mr. Travers spent his childhood on the family farm in Woolford. He was immersed in a country life of farming and family activities that remained one of his passions.
He attended school in Woolford and graduated from Cambridge High School, class of 1945. He attended Washington College in Chestertown, and was drafted from college to the U.S. Army in 1946. Since he was a chemistry major he was eligible for a deferment but he chose to serve his country. After basic training at Fort Bennning, Ga. he earned $50 a month and chose to pursue being a paratrooper to earn $100 a month instead. He made 36 jumps. In Sept. 30, 1948, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as an aviator cadet in Waco, Texas. It was here in Waco that he met his surviving wife, Frances B. Travers. They were married on Oct. 17, 1949.
Mr. Travers had a distinguished and meritorious career as an Air Force fighter pilot beginning as a 2nd Lt. in Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was an instructor in the Fighter Weapons School, then on to Johnson AFB in Japan. During the Korean War he flew P51 Mustangs with his plane decaled as "My Darling Fran" in honor of his wife. Lt. Travers flew 130 missions before returning to the U.S. at Cheyenne, Wyo. in August of 1951. He was transferred to Clovis, N.M., still flying P51's.
In 1954 he was promoted to Captain while at Langley AFB, Va., before returning to Itazuki, Japan, by choice, to fly jet F84 planes. In 1959 he went to Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Ala., and was promoted to Major while a student at the Command and Staff College. He was retained as faculty at the College which did not make him happy as he thought it not the place for a fighter pilot. Family documents record the phone conversation with his mother, suggesting that he hoped she was happy now as she, a school teacher, always wanted one of her children to follow in her profession as a teacher.
In August 1963 he was assigned to Ramstein AFB, Germany as Operations Officer for F 100 fighters and remained there until July 1966 when he was transferred to the Pentagon in DC just after being promoted to Lt. Col. At the Pentagon he was Senior Operations Officer for USAF Command Post where he served as Chief of Preparedness Officer, responsible for briefings to AF Generals.
In November 1969 he went to Udorn AFB in Thailand as Director of Air Force Battle staff for on the scene director of war. He left Thailand in November 1970 returning to England AFB, La., continuing to fly F100 's. At Eglin AFB in Florida in 1971 he was WESP Commander before assignment to Incirlik AFB, Turkey in October 1975 as Chief of the Command Post for Nuclear Alerts. Colonel Travers retired from the U.S. Air Force in June 30, 1976.
During the 30 years as a fighter pilot he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters Korea, Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters South East Asia, Meritorious Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United National Defense Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award UFLSA with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters.
After retirement he was hired by TRW, a U.S. company, to teach Iranian pilots to fly airplanes purchased from the U.S. government. Following this illustrious career he returned to Woolford to re-engage in his country passions and live, once again, at the family farm with his wife of 58 years.
Col. Travers was passionate about everything he did, not only as an aviation pilot but during all his fast track pastimes as race car and boat enthusiast, cruising the waters of the world but especially the Choptank River and the Chesapeake Bay. He was a Christian servant to individuals, families, churches and was an anonymous mentor to countless individuals. While Milton United Methodist Church in Woolford was the site of his beginning for his world of church, he was instrumental in the development and enhancement of the Grace Baptist Church in Hurlock where he served as a deacon. The Rev. David Talley appropriately described him as a "king of men." His family regarded him as the patriarch of a large and loving family.
Col. Travers was a member of Cambridge Yacht Club and had served as Commodore in 1987 and later as Treasurer. He was a lifetime member of Grace Foundation of Taylors Island and leader for the United Fund 1980-1983.
Survivors include his wife, Frances B. Travers of Woolford; two daughters, Donna Oakden and her husband, Ron Oakden of Seattle, Wash. and Carla Pfeifer and her husband, Thomas A. Pfeifer of Easton; two sons, Roy A. Travers and his wife, Edi of Seattle, Brett W. Travers and his wife, Katheryn Travers of East New Market; 15 grandchildren; one sister, Nancy T. Collins and her husband, Frederick P. Collins; one brother, F.L. "Petey" Travers and his wife, Pat Travers of Woolford. He is also survived by one niece, Nancy T. Shockley and two nephews, Rodney A. Travers and Clint F. Travers and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, Glen M. Travers and three brothers, William E. Travers, Maurice J. Travers and Alan G. Travers.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the Grace Baptist Church in Hurlock with Pastor David Talley and the Rev. Robert G. Kirkley officiating. Burial will follow at Old Trinity Churchyard followed by a gathering of family and friends at Milton United Methodist Church at Woolford.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Baptist Church Missionary Fund, P.O. Box 162, Hurlock, MD 21643; Dorchester County Humane Society, P. O. Box 132, Cambridge, MD 21613 or to Milton United Methodist Church, c/o Deanna Marshall, P.O. Box 106, Woolford, MD 21677. Pallbearers will be Brett A. Travers, Alex M Travers, Roy A. Travers, Thomas Pfeifer, Ron Oakden, Clint F. Collins, Johnny Shockley and Rodney A. Travers.
Letters of condolence may be sent to www.thomasfuneralhomepa.com.
WOOLFORD - Lt. Col. Medford Jones "Buck" Travers, 79, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008, at Dorchester General Hospital in Cambridge.
Born Feb. 25, 1928, he was the son of the late Carl Otto Travers and Nellie Jones Travers.
Mr. Travers spent his childhood on the family farm in Woolford. He was immersed in a country life of farming and family activities that remained one of his passions.
He attended school in Woolford and graduated from Cambridge High School, class of 1945. He attended Washington College in Chestertown, and was drafted from college to the U.S. Army in 1946. Since he was a chemistry major he was eligible for a deferment but he chose to serve his country. After basic training at Fort Bennning, Ga. he earned $50 a month and chose to pursue being a paratrooper to earn $100 a month instead. He made 36 jumps. In Sept. 30, 1948, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as an aviator cadet in Waco, Texas. It was here in Waco that he met his surviving wife, Frances B. Travers. They were married on Oct. 17, 1949.
Mr. Travers had a distinguished and meritorious career as an Air Force fighter pilot beginning as a 2nd Lt. in Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was an instructor in the Fighter Weapons School, then on to Johnson AFB in Japan. During the Korean War he flew P51 Mustangs with his plane decaled as "My Darling Fran" in honor of his wife. Lt. Travers flew 130 missions before returning to the U.S. at Cheyenne, Wyo. in August of 1951. He was transferred to Clovis, N.M., still flying P51's.
In 1954 he was promoted to Captain while at Langley AFB, Va., before returning to Itazuki, Japan, by choice, to fly jet F84 planes. In 1959 he went to Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Ala., and was promoted to Major while a student at the Command and Staff College. He was retained as faculty at the College which did not make him happy as he thought it not the place for a fighter pilot. Family documents record the phone conversation with his mother, suggesting that he hoped she was happy now as she, a school teacher, always wanted one of her children to follow in her profession as a teacher.
In August 1963 he was assigned to Ramstein AFB, Germany as Operations Officer for F 100 fighters and remained there until July 1966 when he was transferred to the Pentagon in DC just after being promoted to Lt. Col. At the Pentagon he was Senior Operations Officer for USAF Command Post where he served as Chief of Preparedness Officer, responsible for briefings to AF Generals.
In November 1969 he went to Udorn AFB in Thailand as Director of Air Force Battle staff for on the scene director of war. He left Thailand in November 1970 returning to England AFB, La., continuing to fly F100 's. At Eglin AFB in Florida in 1971 he was WESP Commander before assignment to Incirlik AFB, Turkey in October 1975 as Chief of the Command Post for Nuclear Alerts. Colonel Travers retired from the U.S. Air Force in June 30, 1976.
During the 30 years as a fighter pilot he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters Korea, Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters South East Asia, Meritorious Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United National Defense Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award UFLSA with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters.
After retirement he was hired by TRW, a U.S. company, to teach Iranian pilots to fly airplanes purchased from the U.S. government. Following this illustrious career he returned to Woolford to re-engage in his country passions and live, once again, at the family farm with his wife of 58 years.
Col. Travers was passionate about everything he did, not only as an aviation pilot but during all his fast track pastimes as race car and boat enthusiast, cruising the waters of the world but especially the Choptank River and the Chesapeake Bay. He was a Christian servant to individuals, families, churches and was an anonymous mentor to countless individuals. While Milton United Methodist Church in Woolford was the site of his beginning for his world of church, he was instrumental in the development and enhancement of the Grace Baptist Church in Hurlock where he served as a deacon. The Rev. David Talley appropriately described him as a "king of men." His family regarded him as the patriarch of a large and loving family.
Col. Travers was a member of Cambridge Yacht Club and had served as Commodore in 1987 and later as Treasurer. He was a lifetime member of Grace Foundation of Taylors Island and leader for the United Fund 1980-1983.
Survivors include his wife, Frances B. Travers of Woolford; two daughters, Donna Oakden and her husband, Ron Oakden of Seattle, Wash. and Carla Pfeifer and her husband, Thomas A. Pfeifer of Easton; two sons, Roy A. Travers and his wife, Edi of Seattle, Brett W. Travers and his wife, Katheryn Travers of East New Market; 15 grandchildren; one sister, Nancy T. Collins and her husband, Frederick P. Collins; one brother, F.L. "Petey" Travers and his wife, Pat Travers of Woolford. He is also survived by one niece, Nancy T. Shockley and two nephews, Rodney A. Travers and Clint F. Travers and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, Glen M. Travers and three brothers, William E. Travers, Maurice J. Travers and Alan G. Travers.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the Grace Baptist Church in Hurlock with Pastor David Talley and the Rev. Robert G. Kirkley officiating. Burial will follow at Old Trinity Churchyard followed by a gathering of family and friends at Milton United Methodist Church at Woolford.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Baptist Church Missionary Fund, P.O. Box 162, Hurlock, MD 21643; Dorchester County Humane Society, P. O. Box 132, Cambridge, MD 21613 or to Milton United Methodist Church, c/o Deanna Marshall, P.O. Box 106, Woolford, MD 21677. Pallbearers will be Brett A. Travers, Alex M Travers, Roy A. Travers, Thomas Pfeifer, Ron Oakden, Clint F. Collins, Johnny Shockley and Rodney A. Travers.
Letters of condolence may be sent to www.thomasfuneralhomepa.com.
