Richard Henry “Dick” Travers passed away at the South Shore Hospital on Monday, December 16 after a brief illness. Richard was the loving husband of Barbara (Neal) Travers and is survived by two daughters and a stepson, Pam Ciasullo and her husband David of Millis, Susan Gibson and her husband Scott of Millis, and Richard Neal and his wife Cynthia of Poway, California and his seven grandchildren Amanda Gibson, Catie Gibson, Dawn Favier, Jayme Gibson, Katherine Neal, Jessica Neal, Tara Williamson, many nieces and nephews and 12 great grandchildren. Dick is predeceased by his grandson Jeremiah Brow and by his brothers, Joseph, Edward, Ray, John and sister Katherine.
Dick with his brothers and sister grew up in Dorchester, the children of Michael and Mary (Kinsherf) Travers. Their father Michael was a decorated Boston Firefighter who tragically lost his life while serving in the line of duty for the Boston Fire Department on July 2, 1926 leaving the family fatherless. The family bonded together to overcome this challenge.
With the outbreak of WWII, Dick joined the United States Merchant Marines serving in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. As part of the Army Transport Corp, Dick made numerous Atlantic and Pacific Ocean crossings bringing our troops to the war theatre. He was decorated with the Atlantic War Zone Bar, Pacific War Zone Bar, and the Merchant Marine Combat bar. He was a below deck engineer keeping the vessels at sea which provided him the background and experiences for after the war. A master of mechanics and machinery, Dick could always fix anything. He used these experiences to become a master machinist eventually establishing, with his brother John, Milton Machinery Inc. The company flourished in government, Department of Defense and medical industries manufacturing precision machine parts. The company moved to Weymouth and eventually to Rockland where it was sold after over thirty years in business. Dick enjoyed his home projects and endless hours in his shop. He was an avid boater and owned boats at Hewitt’s Cove and Lake Winnipesauke. Grampy loved to be with his family and was a source of happiness, support and kindness. The Hingham residence was also the focus of summer fun where his swimming pool was the center attraction. Dick was a resident of Millis in his early years before moving to South Hingham where he and his wife Barbara have resided for almost 50 years.
The Funeral will be from C.C. Shepherd Funeral Home, 134 Pleasant St. (Columbian Sq.) South Weymouth on Monday Dec. 23 at 9 AM followed by the Funeral Mass at St. Albert the Great Parish, 1130 Washington St. Weymouth at 10 am. the visiting hours will be on Sunday from 5 to 7 PM. Burial will be in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA at 1PM. Donations may be made in Dick’s memory to the Jimmy Fund http://www.jimmyfund.org/ If you would like to leave a message for the family please click on the candle.