Travis Christoper Cruz
Travis Christopher Cruz, 32, of Hayes, VA went to be with the Lord on March 7, 2023.
Travis was raised in Poquoson, VA. He is the son of Christopher Ignacio Cruz and Cynthia Smith Cruz. He is the grandson of Ignacio (deceased) and Sue Cruz of Newport News, VA; and of Edwin and Lucy Smith of Hallieford, VA. He is survived by his parents; three of his grandparents mentioned above; his loving fiancée, Heather Lynn Evans; his brothers, Tyler Aaron Cruz (and Tyler’s wife, Lauren Rebecca Phelps Cruz) and Trace Logan Cruz; and numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, and extended family members. Born on August 23, 1990, he lived out his youth in Poquoson and graduated from Poquoson High School in 2008. He loved to play soccer, basketball, tennis, and to work out lifting weights in the gym - but his passions also included mathematics and (extreme weather) meteorology. His love of the science of extreme weather lead him on a trek to attend college at Thomas Nelson College, Coastal Carolina University, and finally Virginia Tech where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Meteorology in 2016. His fondest memories of his academic career centered around the annual “Tornado Chase” that Virginia Tech meteorology students would embark on in the late spring of each year. It should be noted that the day of Travis’ passing just happened to be “National Tornado Day 2023”.
After his college graduation, Travis worked as an Information Technologist at Vector27 Financial Group where he used his skills in math and computers. He also founded StormCruzzer LLC. His company was involved in a number of weatherrelated activities, but primarily focused on taking its clients on tornado-chasing trips across the country and on educational events in local schools/communities to peak the interests of school children who might have the passion for the study of extreme weather events.
He was a loving son and brother. There was not a day that he didn’t tell his parents that he loved them – and they would tell him the same. He was a protector of his brothers – and of numerous extended family members and friends. He loved to tell “Dad jokes” and could always be counted on the produce his “pun of the day”. He touched everyone he met with his big heart, his smile, and his laugh. He was also a huge University of Kentucky Wildcat sports fan – especially basketball and football.
A funeral service will be held for Travis at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 25, in the sanctuary at Liberty Live Church, 1021 Big Bethel Road, Hampton, Virginia 23666. The service will be live streamed at libertylive.church/livestream. Immediately following the service, the family will host a visitation/reception in the Dining Hall at the same location. Anyone wishing to bring something to add to the “pot luck meal” at the reception should feel free to do so as Travis would love the celebration of his life to include lots of food, laughter, and sharing in true Guamanian fashion. A private burial will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. The family would like all of Travis’ friends to know that “The StormCruzzer Foundation” is being created in Travis’ memory to carry on work that he would love to see done. Particularly, the foundation plans to fund several scholarship opportunities in the areas of meteorology, mathematics, and exercise science – as well as carry on his passion of providing weatherrelated education experiences to school age children. The foundation also plans to contribute to research into possible cures and treatments for Adhesive Arachnoiditis.
Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home.