Travis Terry Stauffer

Travis Terry Stauffer, 34, formerly of Niles, Ohio, died unexpectedly Wednesday Jan. 14, 2015 of a sudden heart condition while at the California Maritime Academy in California.

Travis was born Sept. 6, 1980 in Warren, Ohio, the son of Ronald Don Stauffer and Linda Lee (Soriano)  Stauffer.

He attended Liberty High School and was a member of the wrestling team where he was chosen to be on the First Team Eastern Ohio Wrestling League. He graduated from Niles McKinley High School in 1999.

After graduation Travis served six years, four months, 23 days in the Navy. While stationed in San Diego he made the Southern Pacific Wrestling Team, where he competed on an international level. After 9/11 Travis volunteered to go back to sea duty serving on the (U.S.S. Cowpens)  & (U.S.S. Shiloh) where he worked as an electronic warfare technician and later became a cryptologist. He was a combat veteran of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom serving nine month deployment in the Persian Gulf.

After his service in the Navy, Travis  attended San Diego Community College before transferring to Youngstown State University where he majored in power plant  technology. He was a member of the Disabled Veterans Organization and also  proud to be the oldest member of the Alpha Phi Delta Fraternity. He graduated in May of 2012. Travis became a Cadet at the California Maritime Academy in September of 2012,  majoring in Marine Transportation where he was scheduled to graduate in the Spring of 2016. A Memorial Service was held in his honor at the Academy on Wednesday January 21^st.

Travis is survived by his parents Ronald and Linda Stauffer of Vienna, Ohio, a brother Thomas (Julie) Kuhn of Vienna, Ohio, a sister Thankful (Thomas) Watson of Youngstown, Ohio, grandfather C. Don Stauffer of Niles, Ohio; grandmother Marilyn Soriano of Niles, Ohio; uncle Terry (Brenda) Stauffer of Niles, Ohio; two aunts, Cindy (Dan) Douglas of Vienna, Ohio; Debrorah (Gary) Dannenberg of Milton, Wi.,  cousins Preston & Christina Stauffer; Dan Douglas Jr. Amanda Douglas Armstrong, Colin Kirk,  Lucas Goetz and nieces & nephews Kylie, Tommy, Cody, River and Lane.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather John Soriano and grandmother Nancy Stauffer.      

Funeral services will be held Monday Jan. 26, 2015 at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2205 Tibbetts Wick Rd., Girard, with Bishop Robert Palmer officiating. Calling hours will be on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 from 1 to 3 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Holloway-Williams Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 611 Robbins Ave., Niles, and Monday, Jan. 26, 2015 at the church from 9 a.m. until time of service.

Burial will be in the Veterans’ section of the Niles City Cemetery. Travis will be honored for his faithful and dedicated service to his country with the observance of full military honors by the Trumbull County Honor Guard at the cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, that memorial contributions be made in the care of the funeral home to be distributed to Travis’s favorite charities by his family.

Family and friends are invited to visit www.hollowaywilliamsfuneralhome.com to view the obituary, sign the guest book and send condolences to the Stauffer family.

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