Elsa "Twiddie" Travis

Elsa “Twiddie” Travis, 92, passed away on January 31, 2011, in Austin, Texas. Mrs. Travis was born on March 4, 1918 in Miami, Florida. Her parents were Peter “Daddy Pete” Baumberger and Pauline Baumberger. Her mother passed away when she was ten. Later, her father married her beloved other mother Evelyn Jackson. During her life, she was an accomplished pianist, a registered nurse, a community volunteer, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt. As a child, she and her brother, Peter Baumberger, formed a musical duo and were well-known in Miami both for their live performances and their frequent performances on the radio. They were invited to perform in front President Roosevelt during his visit to Miami in 1933. Later, deciding her calling was in medicine, she received her nursing degree in 1939. Twiddie became a pediatric nurse and medical librarian. Her Aunt Lina Baumberger McMahon, Superintendent of Nursing at Nan Travis Hospital in Jacksonville Texas offered her a position at the hospital. In Jacksonville she met the love of her life, the future Dr. John M. Travis. They were married in June 1941 and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary together shortly before Dr. Travis passed away in August 1991. For the remainder of her life, she missed him dearly. In 1956, she settled with her husband in Beaumont, Texas, where she helped build and manage her husband’s medical practice. In addition, Twiddie devoted herself to community service, and served for many years as the president of the Y.W.C.A. Her proudest accomplishment was helping to integrate the Y.W.C.A. in the late sixties and early seventies. She was active in the United Way, in Trinity United Methodist Church, and served on the Board of the Baptist Hospital School of Nursing. Twiddie spent countless hours trying to help others. She touched the lives of many. In August of 2010 she moved to Austin, Texas to be near her family. Twiddie was preceded in death by her husband, John, her parents, Peter and Pauline Baumberger, her other mother, Evelyn Jackson Baumberger, and her brother Peter Baumberger. She is survived by her son John (Tim) M Travis, III and wife Margaret of Austin, Texas, her daughter Pauline (Polly) Westbrook and husband Jay of Austin, her grandson, Joel Westbrook, wife, Jenny and great grandchildren, Owen and Elias of Walnut Creek California, her brother Charles H. Baumberger and wife Molly of Miami, Florida, her beloved other daughter, Ann Duchamp of Florida, her beloved friend and companion Tillie Mae Young of Beaumont, nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews. The family would like thank her long term caregiver, Regina Mitchell, her other Austin caregiver, Lucy Sanchez, her doctors in Beaumont and Austin especially Dr. George Thomas of Beaumont and the Capitol Bank Trust Department of Beaumont, Texas. A special thanks to the staff of Hospice Austin’s Christopher House and to First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville, Texas. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Hospice Austin’s Christopher House or the charity of your choice. Serving Twiddie as honorary pallbearers will be Patrick Lanier, Brent Wester, Charles Henry Baumberger, Peter Baumberger, Michael Baumberger, Celia Baumberger, Bill Helton, Joel Westbrook and Owen Westbrook. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the evening until seven o’clock in the evening, Friday, the 4th day of February at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin. Graveside Services will be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 5th day of February at Resthaven Cemetery in Jacksonville, Texas.