Robert Travis Armistead Jr., 74, passed away peacefully at home on August 3, 2025. Born on June 16, 1951, in Williamsburg, Travis was a devoted husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, and a lifelong steward of the land and community he called home.
A master mason, Travis owned and operated his own bricklaying company, leaving behind a legacy of fine craftsmanship built into homes, buildings, and structures across the region. He approached his work with skill, pride, and quiet dedication.
Travis was a true outdoorsman. He knew many trails, riverbanks, and stretches of woods in James City County and beyond. A lifelong hunter and fisherman, he had a remarkable knowledge of native plants, soil types, and local history—and he shared it freely. His deep love for animals and nature was evident to anyone who knew him.
Quick-witted and always ready with a good joke, Travis had a sharp sense of humor that brought laughter and lightness to any room. He was the kind of person who could make you laugh and who never took himself too seriously.
He is survived by his loving wife, Sharon Kay Armistead; his daughters, Judith Armistead Reeves (husband Kevin Reeves) and Elizabeth Ware Armistead; stepchildren, Jennifer Williams (husband Steve Williams) and Jeffrey Tench (wife Stacy Tench); sister, Mary Armistead Hogge. He was also a proud and devoted grandfather to Katherine Reeves Lee (husband Michael Lee), Emily Reeves, Chase Tench, and Riley Tench.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Travis Armistead Sr.; his mother, Sarah Hayes Armistead; and his sister, Sallie Lee Willson.
A graveside service will be held at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Williamsburg, Virginia, on Friday, August 8, at 11 a.m. Friends and family are invited to attend and celebrate a life marked by quiet strength, deep knowledge, humor, and love.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to a local animal shelter or investing in your local community to make it better—or simply spending time outdoors in his honor, sharing a good story, telling a joke, or helping a neighbor the way Travis would have.
