William Albert "Bill" Travelstead

William “Bill” Albert Travelstead passed away Tuesday, October 10, 2023 peacefully at home surrounded by family. Bill was born July 31, 1931 in Marion, IL to Clyde and Dora Alice (Barham) Travelstead. He graduated high school and was in his 3^rd year at Southern Illinois University when Bill was drafted into the US Army. During his time in the Army, he served as a First Lieutenant stationed in Japan and Ft. Bliss, El Paso, TX.  While at Ft Bliss, Bill fell in love not only with the warm weather and landscape, but his wife of 64 years and 11 months, Phyllis Smith. Bill and Phyllis were married on October 31, 1958. Together they raised two sons, Bill and James. Bill not only worked as a mine engineer/surveyor in the mining industry for many years, he and his wife Phyllis owned and operated Baskin Robbins for 26 years. If that wasn’t enough, he also owned and operated the Couture Health Studio in downtown Carlsbad for many years. 

As a skilled and accomplished gunsmith, the craftmanship he put into his work was well known in the industry. Bill won the Texas State Big Boar Silhouette Championship in 1977 and also won the Parker Brothers Flyer Side by Side Event in Las Vegas, NV in the mid-1980’s.  He was as skilled as a shooter as he was in his gunsmith work. After retirement Bill operated the Carlsbad Shooting Range. He enjoyed shooting trap and 22 matches with his sons and grandchildren. His true passion was teaching his sons, grandsons, granddaughters, and even great-grandson not only how to shoot but gun safety, re-loading and many skills. To all who knew him, his knowledge and skill for the sport will be deeply missed. 

Bill was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Dora and brother, Tom Travelstead. Bill is survived by his wife of 64 years Phyllis; sons, Bill Travelstead, James Travelstead and wife April; grandchildren, Danielle Atwood of Aztec, NM, Jessica Heinsohn and husband Chase, Cooper Travelstead and wife Rebecca, Brody Gardner all of Carlsbad, NM, Brock Gardner of Bastrop, TX;  8 great-grandchildren, Kylee Atwood, Rhett Atwood, Skylar Atwood, Aiden Heinsohn, Braelynn Heinsohn, Chloe Heinsohn, Daliya Heinsohn, and Hadley Travelstead; brother-in-law, Harlen Smith and wife Betsy, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.  Cremation has taken place. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. A private family service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made to the Eddy County Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) through the Eddy County Extension Office at 1304 W. Stevens St, Carlsbad, NM 88220.