Andrew D. Travis Jr.

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Andrew D. Travis Jr., 72, of 158 Lakeside Dr., Bemus Point, N.Y., died on Friday, Jan. 9, 2009, in his home.

A Bemus Point resident since 1951, he was born April 12, 1927, in Canisteo, N.Y., the son of Andrew D. and Mildred French Travis Sr.

Mr. Travis was a 1945 graduate of Canisteo High School, earned his Bachelor of Science degree in elemen-tary education in 1951 and his Master of Science degree in elementary education in 1959 from the State College at Fredonia. He was a veteran serving the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard a rescue patrol in the South Pacific from 1945 un-til his discharge in 1946.

He was the high school band director for the Bemus Point Central School System from 1951 until 1983. He was also a deputy sheriff with the Chautauqua Coun-ty Sheriff's Navigation Pa-trol from 1960 until 1975. He was a piano tuner from 1950 until 1990 in his own business of tuning, restoring and refinishing pianos. He was a professional musician playing the trombone and was a former member of the (ITA) International Trom-bone Association, was a backup trombonist on occa-sion with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra in Chautauqua Institution, was active with Max Davis Orchestra from 1953 to 1965, his own combo ''Horizon" from 1965 until 1990, and his Dixieland band '' Dixie On The Deck" from 1982 until 1990. He was first trombonist with Jamestown Municipal Band from 1951 until 1965, occa-sionally played with ''Greater Olean Area Trom-bone Ensemble" from 1985 until 1990, and freelanced with other groups through the years.

Mr. Travis was the direc-tor of Westfield United Methodist Church Choir from 1951 until 1952, Ep-worth Christ United Metho-dist Church from 1952 until 1959 and the United Metho-dist Men's Choir in Bemus Point from 1982 to the present. He was active in the Barbershop Quartet ''The Four-tune Hunters'' from 1968 until 1985 and changed to ''The Stardusters'' affiliated with SPEBSQSA the international society of barbershop singers. He was also active with the Jamestown Har-mony Express Barbershop Chorus from 1985 until 1990. He directed, wrote and arranged music for Ismailia Shrine Drum and Bugle Corps from 1966 until 1997. He was active with the United States Power Squa-dron in Jamestown from 1959 until 1969 and was commander in 1963.

Surviving are his wife, Grace L. Tresch Travis, whom he married Aug.19, 1950; two sons: Daniel G. (Barbara) Travis of Lake-wood, and David A. Travis of Bemus Point; two grand-sons: Joshua Kilian of Lake-wood and David (Tabatha Delahoy) Kilian of Ashville; two great-granddaughters: Courtney Delahoy and Madison Kilian, both of Ashville; and a sister Betty Vasburgh of Newark Valley, N.Y.

Mr. Travis was preceded in death by two sisters: Lorene Travis and Mary Louise Hallock.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday in the Bemus Point United Methodist Church. The Rev. Daniel G. McBride, pastor, will officiate.

No visitation will be ob-served.

The family suggests that memorials be made to Bemus Point United Metho-dist Church, 4954 Bemus- Ellery Road, Bemus Point, NY, 14712.