The Rev. Dr. Travis Talmadge DuPriest Jr. died unexpectedly on June 29, 2021.

Travis was born Aug. 15, 1944, in Richmond, to Travis Talmadge DuPriest Sr., and Mildred Abbitt DuPriest. He grew up and attended school in Crewe, graduating from Crewe High School in 1962. He attended college at the University of Richmond. Graduating with honors in 1966, Travis began graduate studies in English at the University of Kentucky, earning a Ph.D. with a specialization in 17th-century English literature. After graduate school, Travis continued his studies, entering a master’s degree in the Theological Studies program at Harvard Divinity School. After completing his theological training, Travis was ordained to the priesthood in 1975.

His academic career as a professor of English was spent at Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis., beginning in 1974; he received the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1981. Travis also served as assistant priest at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Racine, Wis. In 1990, he became the director of the DeKoven Center, a position in which he served until 2006.

In 1972, Travis married Mabel Ann Benson at the Cathedral Church of St. George, Martyr at Crystal, Ky. They became parents of two children, Travis Edgerton and Benson Hunter, and grandparents of Madeline Rose and Evan Hunter.

As a child, Travis spent many happy summer vacations visiting with family and friends in the Smithfield area. Later, though living in Wisconsin, he would travel yearly to his family cottage, “Fisherman’s Rest,” in Rushmere, on Burwell’s Bay. There with his wife and children, he would relax and appreciate the beauty of the river, in sunshine and storm. He loved fishing, walking the shore line, looking for eagles, observing the sunrises and watching the storm clouds. He also was an occasional summer supply priest at Christ Episcopal Church in Smithfield.

Travis has been preceded in death by his parents, Travis and Mildred, and by his nephew, Talmadge Abbitt DuPriest. He is survived by his wife, his sons, his daughter-in-law Maria, his grandchildren, and among other relatives, his brother and sister-in-law: Robert and Barclay DuPriest, of Ashland, nephew, Rand DuPriest, and great-niece, Sydney DuPriest, of Richmond.

Interment took place in a private ceremony on the DeKoven Center grounds on July 8. Later that morning, a Requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Racine, Wis.