Thelma Marie Jones Travis

Thelma was born the 5th of 9 children to Perry L & Ida R (Sade) Jones on March 12, 1924 in the family home in the community of Lovell, OK. She was reborn into the family of Christ at the age of 13 while sitting by herself in the First Christian Church in Lovell OK. On January 22, 2020 Thelma joined her beloved husband, John, her oldest child Linda, her youngest child Michael, granddaughter Sandra Jones, grandson Christopher Travis and great grandson Robby John Haines as well as her parents and 7 of her siblings in Heaven.

After graduating from Crescent high school in 1942 she moved to Oklahoma City to live with an aunt and attend business college. After graduating Business College, she went to work for the new Tinker Air Field where she met many young men leaving for overseas duty in the war effort. She began to write to many of the service men and in particular one from her home town of Crescent. John (Duddy) Travis, brother of one of her best friends came home from the marine corp after serving in the Pacific theatre. They married in Guthrie, OK on Oct 2, 1943. They were married for 45 years during which Thelma was a devoted care giver to John for many years before his death in 1989.

To this union was born 5 children. Linda, Phillip, Debbie, Sandra & Michael. John and Thelma raised their children in church and with much prayer. Thelma returned to work at Tinker Air Force Base after John became ill where she worked until her retirement achieving the position of Supervisor to many employees. After the death of Linda, they took in her sons Robin Haines and David McGowen and raised them as their own.

Thelma was a dedicated worker in her church as well. She was respected and admired as a woman of God. She attended Howard Memorial Baptist Church for many years and then moved her membership to Heavenly Heights Baptist Church later moving back to Howard Memorial.

When John fell ill at a young age, Thelma took refresher night courses and went to work at Star Oil Company for a few years and then went to work at Tinker Air Force Base achieving a supervisory position. She was well respected by all she worked with.

She is survived by her sister Doris Martin, children Phillip & Mary Travis of Midwest City, Deborah & Stanley Allred, Choctaw, Sandra & Paul Jones, Newcastle, 10 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, 11 great-great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.