September 30, 1938 – December 8, 2016
Travis Earl Pitts, 78, of Windsor, CA, died unexpectedly in Angel’s Camp, CA, on December 8, 2016. He was born September 30, 1938, in Carnegie Oklahoma, to Travis Earl and Juanita (Barnes) Pitts. Travis attended Sanger High School where he was an outstanding athlete and worked after school at a men’s clothing store where he became quite the sewer/tailor, a skill he continued to use throughout his life. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he quickly earned the rank of sergeant. Following his military service Travis married his late wife Patricia Busch of Fresno, CA. He worked for his father’s plumbing company, Clark/Pitts Plumbing and became a partner in the business while raising his four children in Fresno, CA. He later began working for the State of California ultimately retiring as the Executive Director for the Building Standards Commission. Retirement led Travis to become a Certified Instructor for the Hunter Education program with the Department of Fish & Game. His intense passion for guns and particularly the hobby of “reloading” ammunition provided him the expertise to teach others the safety of firearms. He was a proud member of both Folsom and Ukiah gun clubs. Travis regularly assisted his wife Ann in many of her volunteer positions including work with the Windsor Chamber of Commerce, Forgotten Felines, Windsor Historical Society, and the Windsor Grange, an organization Travis was an active member of as he was deeply committed to its mission. His friendly smile and uncommon gentleman way was observed by anyone he came across. He also enjoyed camping, tinkering with the Model A and rebuilding a 1948 Willy’s Jeep with his four-legged sidekick Clyde right by his side. Travis is survived by his mother, Juanita Pitts (102 years old!) of Clovis, CA; his wife, Ann (Bogisich) Pitts of Windsor, CA; his sister, Vicky (Glenn) Caine of Fresno, CA; his four children, Cindy Blay of Grants Pass, OR; Terry (Ernie) Green of Stockton, CA; Randall Pitts of Grants Pass, OR; Christie Lee Tener of Sacramento, CA; his eight grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, two nieces and two stepsons Michael Faber and John (Dana) Faber of Windsor, CA. Travis is preceded in death by his late wife and mother of his children Patricia (Busch) Pitts and his father Travis Earl Pitts. There will be a celebration of his life on Sunday, February 5, 2017 from 1:00pm-3:00pm at the Windsor Grange Hall, 9161 Starr Road. Windsor, California
