John William Travis, 81, a piano technician who headed two national professional piano associations, died of respiratory arrest April 2 at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. A resident of Takoma Park, he had lived in the Washington area since 1942.
Mr. Travis retired in 1992. He began working here with the Campbell Music Co., the local representative for Steinway pianos. He became self-employed in the early 1950s. He was the author of two books, "Let's Tune Up" and "A Guide to Restringing," and taught a course in piano tuning at Montgomery College.
He was a native of Blackford, Ky., and a graduate of Murray State University. He served in the Navy during World War II.
Mr. Travis was president of the National Association of Piano Tuners and co-president of the Piano Technicians Guild, which gave him its Golden Hammer Award and inducted him into its Hall of Fame. He was a Mason. He was a charter member of the Choral Arts Society of Washington, sang in the choir at Calvary Baptist Church and Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church, both in Hyattsville, and directed the choir at First Baptist Church of Hyattsville. He also wrote choral music.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Genevieve R. Travis of Takoma Park; four children, John William Travis Jr. of Waldorf, Genevieve Wheeler of Takoma Park and Michael R. Travis and Jeffrey W. Travis, both of Greenbelt; a brother, Cecil Travis of Redding, Calif.; a sister, Lyda White of Providence, Ky.; three grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
Mr. Travis retired in 1992. He began working here with the Campbell Music Co., the local representative for Steinway pianos. He became self-employed in the early 1950s. He was the author of two books, "Let's Tune Up" and "A Guide to Restringing," and taught a course in piano tuning at Montgomery College.
He was a native of Blackford, Ky., and a graduate of Murray State University. He served in the Navy during World War II.
Mr. Travis was president of the National Association of Piano Tuners and co-president of the Piano Technicians Guild, which gave him its Golden Hammer Award and inducted him into its Hall of Fame. He was a Mason. He was a charter member of the Choral Arts Society of Washington, sang in the choir at Calvary Baptist Church and Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church, both in Hyattsville, and directed the choir at First Baptist Church of Hyattsville. He also wrote choral music.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Genevieve R. Travis of Takoma Park; four children, John William Travis Jr. of Waldorf, Genevieve Wheeler of Takoma Park and Michael R. Travis and Jeffrey W. Travis, both of Greenbelt; a brother, Cecil Travis of Redding, Calif.; a sister, Lyda White of Providence, Ky.; three grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
John William Travis, 81, a piano technician who headed two national professional piano associations, died of respiratory arrest April 2 at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. A resident of Takoma Park, he had lived in the Washington area since 1942.
Mr. Travis retired in 1992. He began working here with the Campbell Music Co., the local representative for Steinway pianos. He became self-employed in the early 1950s. He was the author of two books, "Let's Tune Up" and "A Guide to Restringing," and taught a course in piano tuning at Montgomery College.
He was a native of Blackford, Ky., and a graduate of Murray State University. He served in the Navy during World War II.
Mr. Travis was president of the National Association of Piano Tuners and co-president of the Piano Technicians Guild, which gave him its Golden Hammer Award and inducted him into its Hall of Fame. He was a Mason. He was a charter member of the Choral Arts Society of Washington, sang in the choir at Calvary Baptist Church and Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church, both in Hyattsville, and directed the choir at First Baptist Church of Hyattsville. He also wrote choral music.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Genevieve R. Travis of Takoma Park; four children, John William Travis Jr. of Waldorf, Genevieve Wheeler of Takoma Park and Michael R. Travis and Jeffrey W. Travis, both of Greenbelt; a brother, Cecil Travis of Redding, Calif.; a sister, Lyda White of Providence, Ky.; three grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
Mr. Travis retired in 1992. He began working here with the Campbell Music Co., the local representative for Steinway pianos. He became self-employed in the early 1950s. He was the author of two books, "Let's Tune Up" and "A Guide to Restringing," and taught a course in piano tuning at Montgomery College.
He was a native of Blackford, Ky., and a graduate of Murray State University. He served in the Navy during World War II.
Mr. Travis was president of the National Association of Piano Tuners and co-president of the Piano Technicians Guild, which gave him its Golden Hammer Award and inducted him into its Hall of Fame. He was a Mason. He was a charter member of the Choral Arts Society of Washington, sang in the choir at Calvary Baptist Church and Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church, both in Hyattsville, and directed the choir at First Baptist Church of Hyattsville. He also wrote choral music.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Genevieve R. Travis of Takoma Park; four children, John William Travis Jr. of Waldorf, Genevieve Wheeler of Takoma Park and Michael R. Travis and Jeffrey W. Travis, both of Greenbelt; a brother, Cecil Travis of Redding, Calif.; a sister, Lyda White of Providence, Ky.; three grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
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