LEWISTON — Archie R. Travers Sr. of Auburn, died Nov. 28.

Archie was born Oct. 7, 1923, in Magalloway Plantation at home, the first of 11 to Sybil Bennett and Charles Travers. Archie was in the European Theater during World War II, including the battles at Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge.

He was a lifetime member and former Commander of the American Legion Post 153 and Free Mason of the Raboni Lodge.

Once he returned home, he ended up marrying a childhood neighbor, Hazel Martin. He would bounce a ball on his mom’s window when she was making cookies in order to get Sybil to offer what was a rarity in Hazel’s home due to the Great Depression. Sybil always obliged with a tasty treat.

Archie and Hazel were married on Jan. 24 1946 at St. Louis Church in New Auburn.

Our extended family is vast and innumerable, they were all special and precious to our dad. Many vacations were spent with Donald and Hennie Martin along with their family, memories that lasted a lifetime, in some ways due to the bond from World War II that our Uncle Don shared with our dad.

Archie is survived by the love of his life, Hazel M. Travers; his children, Archie Jr., Jeffrey, Stephen Suzanne and Patrick; his brothers, Vernon, Roger and Gary; his sister, Melanie, to stay the course until they are called home; Archie loves and also leaves his 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

Our dad was very pained by losing his brothers, Marvin, Carroll, Virgil and Fred and his sisters, Judith and Sonia, his great-grandson, Zach and great-granddaughter, Brook, that went before him. He didn’t feel it was fair that he should have to see them go first, “it’s not the way it’s supposed to be.” You can’t console those kind of thoughts and feelings, but I know that he can share that with them now.