Travis Neil Savage, 51, of Piketon, Ohio, passed away on June 30, 2026. He was born on April 14, 1975, in Fort Knox, Kentucky, where his late parents, William Jay Savage and Cheryl Lynn Cox, were stationed at the time. On August 11, 2019, Travis was united in marriage to Kelly Chandler Savage, who survives. Also surviving are his children, Kaleb Blaine Savage and Elijah W.R. Savage, both of New Jersey, and Emersyn Caroline Savage of Piketon; a brother, Richard Jay Savage of Germany; a sister, Jessica Mae Savage of Latham; and a very large extended family who loved him very much.
Travis was a 1993 graduate of Western High School. Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he proudly served as a Military Police officer from 1993 to 2000. This enlistment started him on his journey of traveling the world, serving in Haiti, Somalia, and the Panama Canal region. There, he made lifelong friends who became his family.Once Travis was back in Latham for good, he reconnected with his former high school girlfriend, Kelly, who repeatedly told him to go home and stop calling her. He eventually wore her down with his dimples, charm, and conspiracy theories. He spent his days working, going to Em’s ball games and musicals, playing online games with Eli, enjoying time with his family, taking fun vacations, yelling at the news, and having Sunday breakfasts with his best friend, Stevie.
He was the guy you called when you needed anything. He was at Jake’s anytime “Dad” called for assistance with a project that needed precision, or just to make sure “Dad” didn’t overdo it, and being Big Brother to the rescue for Jess. He always came through.Throughout his marriage, he worked on the West Virginia Pipeline, in construction, and most recently as security, manager and spokesman for Southern Ohio Botanicals, where once again he got to travel, while promoting the business and trade. And because Travis didn’t know how to do anything halfway, he used this knowledge to participate in a Veterans Roundtable discussion attended by Congressman Taylor, advocating for veterans’ health and well-being and for them to have access to these therapies as alternative options for care.This man from Pike County went big places. He did big things. He did the hard things only military guys will understand. He loved and was loved. And we will miss him so very much.
Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, July 5, 2026, at Gardner Cemetery, with military graveside honors given by American Legion Post 142 of Waverly. Services are in the care of Botkin Hornback Funeral Home in Waverly.
www.botkinhornbackfuneralhomes.com