Travis C. Wake, age 79, of Centerville, Indiana, and formerly of Crossville, Illinois, died peacefully at his home during the early hours of Thursday, January 9, 2025.
He was born in Prescott, Arkansas, on December 20, 1945, to Clyde and Georgia Miller Wake. Travis graduated from Crossville High School in Crossville, Illinois, in 1963 and from Southern Illinois University with a degree in engineering in 1969. From there, he moved to Richmond, Indiana, where he worked as a product engineer for Belden Wire and Cable his entire career, even holding a patent for a hermetic lead wire. His work for Belden took him from Richmond; to Wheaton, Illinois; to Dumas, Arkansas; and back again to Richmond, where, after 39 years of employment, he finally retired in 2008.
Above all else, Travis loved traveling with his wife, visiting his second home in Pigeon Forge, and spending time with his grandchildren. He also loved horses, motorcycles, and fast cars … especially his 2021 Corvette, which he could be seen driving to his favorite breakfast places in Connersville and Cambridge City and to the local McDonalds for ice cream cones.
Travis was a loving and giving parent and grandparent, fondly referred to as “The Legend” by his grandchildren, “Mr. Fix It” by his son and daughter, and “Self-Proclaimed Expert at Everything” by all family members. He was always there to lend a helping hand and to help solve any problem his friends or family members had. Travis was also a deeply religious man, maintaining membership at Centerville Christian Church in Centerville, Indiana, for the past 38 years.
Travis is survived by his wife of 53 years, Peggy Armstrong Wake; daughter, Shelley Wake Newman, Centerville, Indiana; son, Scott (Jill) Wake, Leesburg, Indiana; grandsons, Ryan and Sean Newman, Centerville, Indiana; granddaughters, Ashley and Olivia Wake, Leesburg, Indiana; sister, Alice Wake, Crossville, Illinois; brother, Dennis (Deb) Wake, Northwood, New Hampshire; and sister-in-law, Sandra Wake, Huntsville, Alabama.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Paul Wake.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 17, 2025, at Stokes Chapel Cemetery, County Road 1475 East, Crossville, Illinois. Roberts and Cook Funeral Home in Crossville is handling the arrangements.
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