WOODFIN-TRAVIS, Cora (Criger) - b. October 6, 1918 - d. December 9, 2015

[patyrn]

Cora Woodfin-Travis, 97, of Augusta, Kansas, passed away peacefully December 9, 2015.  She was born October 6, 1918 in Howard, Kansas to Jacob Ruble and Gertie (Simpson) Criger.

Cora attended Howard and Marmath, North Dakota schools and attended one year at the University of North Dakota.  In 1943, she enlisted in the Women's Army Air Corps.  She served three years in the military as a platoon and company commander at WAAC training centers, earning the rank of 1st Lieutenant.

In August 1944, she married Ensign Joseph M. Burris, a Navy fighter pilot, who died just one month later in the line of duty.  In September 1946, she married John M. Woodfin.  John worked for Humble Pipeline Company (now Exxon), and they lived in the oil fields of south Texas.  John died in May 1956.

After John's death, Cora and their daughter, Marsha, moved to Winfield, Kansas where Cora received her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Southwestern College.  She taught eight years in the Winfield public schools before she received her Master of Arts degree in elementary counseling.  She then served as an elementary counselor to USD #470 in Arkansas City, Kansas until retirement.

In 1979, the Arkansas City Teachers Association nominated Cora as their Master Teacher of the Year.  She was recognized as Kansas School Counselor of the Year in 1980 and was named to the Kansas Counselor Hall of Fame for outstanding contributions to counseling in 1983.  In 1987, Cora married Fred Travis, a childhood friend from Howard.  Fred died in 1998.

Cora was a member of AUMC, Chapter CU PEO in Winfield, Kansas, Gamma Beta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society of Winfield, Kansas, and a lifetime member of the Kansas Retired Teachers Association.

Survivors include her daughter, Marsha Jackson and husband, Bob of Augusta, Kansas; grandchildren, Kara Hallmark and husband, Brian, Bonni Tole and husband, Wes, and Brian Jackson and wife, Melanie, all of Augusta, Kansas, and Kaely Walker and husband, Jim of Wichita, Kansas; and great-grandchildren, Brandon and Keegan Hallmark, Grady Tole and Blake Altenhofen, Jaren and Jadyn Jackson, and Brandt and Brooke Walker.  In addition to her husbands, Cora was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers, Ralph, Floyd, George, and Dick Criger.

Cora's family will gather with friends from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 14, 2015 at the Augusta United Methodist Church, 2420 N. Ohio, Augusta, Kansas 67010.  Services will begin at 10:00 a.m.  Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery in Augusta.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Augusta United Methodist Church or Lakepoint Assisted Living in Augusta.  Arrangements are by Headley Funeral Chapel, 813 State Street, Augusta, Kasnas 67010.

(taken from the Headley Funeral Chapel website)