Willes Traver

Willes James Traver, long time resident of Zion, IL died October 16, 2011 at Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, Illinois. Willes better known as "Sonny" to friends and relations was born January 23, 1940 in Grand Marsh, Adams Co. Wisconsin to Archie & Katherine May (Cleland) Traver. He was the second of three children. He grew up in Adams and attended both Adam's Grade & High Schools. Quitting High School at the age of 16, he went to Illinois and began work in Lake Forest, IL as a busboy and shortly became head busboy. At the age of 18, he returned to his father's house in Adams and went to work in the pulp wood industry. Willes was sworn into the USAF on May 6, 1958 in Milwaukee, WI and was then sent to Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX. There he completed Basic Training and went to Air Police School. Upon completion of school he was stationed at Chennault AFB, Lake Charles, LA. where he was assigned to the 68 th . Air Police Combat Defense Sqdn. He was then assigned to other bases in the world for temporary duty of 60 to 120 days. They assignments were called TDY's. Some of the foreign places he was assigned were England, Goose Bay Labrador, Spain, French Morocco and in the US he was in Maine, Florida, Arkansas, and Louisiana. His date of discharge was to be May 5, 1962, but he was extended because of the Cuban Crisis. He was discharged February 05, 1963 at Chennault and was assigned to active reserve until May 5, 1964 at which time his service was completed. Sonny was married 3 times. He married his 1 st . wife Ruby Lee Rushing February 11, 1963 at her mother's home in Denham Springs, Louisiana. They had 3 children together. Kathy Lynn, born April 06, 1964 in Zion, Il. Tony James born December 25, 1965 in Baton Rouge, La. Linda Ann Born April 09, 1971 in Waukegan, IL. He married his 2 nd . Wife Vidie Crawford on April 19, 1985 in Zion, IL He married his present wife Sally Holstrom on October 18, 1997 in Waukegan, IL. In 1963 were he was employed at Compact Metal in Waukegan, IL. He left Zion in 1964 and returned to Denham Springs, La. He worked various jobs until the Baton Rouge La. Fire Department employed him. Quitting his job in 1967 he returned to Zion, IL. Were he went to work at Fansteel Corp. in North Chicago working days and a second job working 3 rd . shift at U. S. Envelope in North Chicago. He left the factory in 1968 going to work in the construction trade until he retired in 1998 due to health problem. While in construction he worked for Walsh Const. Co. from 1968 to 1970 as labor supervisor in building the Zion Nuclear Plant at Zion, IL. 1970 to 1972 as supervisor for G. L. Tarlton Const. Co.. St. Louis building and upgrading the Waukegan Sanitation plant in Waukegan, Il. 1972 to 1974 as supervisor for JJG Construction Co. California building Marriot Great America in Gurnee, Il. 1974 to 1980 as supervisor for Bass Conts. Co. Detroit, Mi. building Sanitary Plants at Waukegan, Highland Park, Deerfield, Long Lake, Island Lake, and Harvard Illinois. In 1980 he returned to the Zion Nuclear Plant were he worked as Supervisor until he retired in 1998. The companies he worked for while at the Zion Nuclear Plant were Morrison Const. Co. Ill. 1980-1982. Hunter Corp. Indiana 1982-1990. Bechtel Corp. California 1990-1997 and Pope Const. Co. Il. 1997-1998. Sonny liked working in his yard and on his house. He also liked building computer and making things with his scroll saw.. Sonny was preceded in death by his Father Archie Traver May 1,1967, his Mother Kartherine Cleland Sept. 3, 1998, one Sister Marion (Traver) Rathman, August 12, 1980, two brothers Delmer Traver, Sept. 19, 1978, Archie Traver Jr. Oct.15, 2005, Daughter Kathy (Traver) Lewis, July 22, 1984, Grandson Anthony Michael Lewis, April 04, 1984 and his 1 st . wife Ruby Spence, Dec. 25, 2005. Sonny is survived by his wife Sally (Holstrom) Traver, his son Tony Traver, his daughter Linda (Russell) Lockhart , grandaughter Triston Traver, two grandsons Russell Lockhart Jr. and Matthew Willes Lockhart all of Denham Springs, Louisiana. One Sister June (Traver) Schoff, Two adopted Brother Joe and John (Bank) Traver all of Mauston, Wisconsin, Three Nephews and three Nieces. A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, October 20, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at Congdon Funeral Home , 3012 Sheridan Rd., Zion, IL. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery, Antioch, IL. Friends may greet the family on Thursday from 9:00 a.m until the time of service at the funeral home.