Ann Travelstead, former Islander editor, passes
Ann Thomas (Pearson) Travelstead passed away on July 18, 2010, at a Bowling Green, Ky. nursing facility. She was 92.
Born on May 30, 1918, she was the daughter of the late Nell Anderson and John T. Thomas of Sevierville, Tenn. and served as editor of, first, the Sanibel-Captiva Islander, then the Gasparilla Gazettte in Boca Grande. She also contributed to various regional magazines.
She had been a resident of Bowling Green, where her late husband ‘s family had property, off and on since 1977, but spent much of her time in Florida, returning to Bowling Green permanently from Sarasota in 2005.
Travelstead attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. In the 1960s, she was the Director of Promotions &Special Events for all Burdine’s Department Stores based in Miami, then was an executive with McCormick & Company of Baltimore until she moved to Sanibel in 1975.
Ann taught adult education classes at Western Kentucky University and conducted private workshops. She won the Zephyrus Award for Fiction presented by the Department of English at Western Kentucky in 1979 and, later, the award was re-named in her honor.
Widely traveled, Ann had spent several periods of time in Spain as well as over two years living in India. She was especially well read and an engaging storyteller of her experiences.
A member of the American Business Women’s Association, Arts Alliance, Ladies Literary Club, and State Street United Methodist Church, Ann was predeceased by her only son, Maj. John Welshan, USAF, in 1968 (actually missing in action) and her husband, Will Gooch Travelstead, in1981.
A memorial service will be conducted in the chapel at State Street United Methodist Church on July 23. Memorial contributions may be made to the church, 1101 State Street, Bowling Green, KY 42101 or to the Department of English Publications, Western Kentucky University,1906 College Heights Boulevard, Bowling Green, KY 42101.
No visitation is planned.