William "Bill" Mitchel Childress was called home on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at the age of 88.
He was born in Paradise, KY on March 7, 1925 to Everet Lee and Cynthia (Mason) Childress.
On January 14, 1945, Bill and Margie (Forney) were married in Michigan City, IN. Margie preceded Bill in death in 2004. On September 17, 2005 at the First Christian Church in Rolling Prairie, Bill married "Maggie" Margaret (Sensow) who survives.
Bill is also survived by his loving family; children, Bradley Michael (Denah) Childress of Rolling Prairie and Robert Mason (Diane) Childress of La Porte; grandchildren, Erik Childress, Carrie Ann Du Mont, Mark (Wendy) Childress, Michael (Jennifer) Childress, Adam (Andrea) Childress, Keisha Childress, and Kevin Childress; great-grandchildren, Weslie Childress, Christopher James Tibor, Michelle Tibor, Casey Petty, Kimberly Childress, Jordan Childress, Kira Childress, Tyler Childress, Patrick Childress, Landon Carriveau, and Payten Bulger; brother, Robert Lee (Gloria) Childress of La Porte; and daughter-in-law, Carol Childress of Rolling Prairie.
Preceding Bill in death were his parents; his son, William Mitchel Childress, Jr.; and his three sisters, Lennie Mae Dennis, Eula Merl Young, and Geneva Beatrice Gropp.
Bill proudly served in the Navy from 1945 - 1946. His week of Basic Training was done in Great Lakes, IL. From there, he went to Camp Endicott in RI for Construction Battalion and Hand-to-Hand Combat training. He was briefly stationed at Camp Parks, CA where he was assigned to "the Lucky bag". That was where the belongings of servicemen killed overseas were sent to be distributed to the next of kin. Bill was then sent to Pearl Harbor where he drove a truck, first hauling coral out of the ocean to make a road up to the new hospital and then driving to the dining halls all over the base. One day he was told to pack up all of his belongings. All he was told was that he would know where he was going when he got there. His destination was one of the largest ships in the fleet, the USS Kenneth Whiting AV14. He worked in the engine room as a fireman with a Seaman 2nd Class rank. He was honorably discharged in February 1946. Years later, Bill coordinated many programs to honor Veterans and to remind all that "Freedom is not Free".
Upon returning home, Bill went back to work at Allis Chalmers where he retired from in 1982. He had worked as an assembler on the draper roller line, as a spot welder, a welding machine operator, a machine repair assistant, and finally as a journeyman-machine repair.
He also performed maintenance work on heavy equipment used by the railroads. He went to work for Pyramid Welding becoming the Shop Foreman. Truck driving for Gopher Express was Bill's next job. He ended up buying out the company and formed Mar-Bil, which continued to expedite freight and later became Mar-Bil Welding and Fabrication. When Bill retired from Mar-Bil, his grandson Mark took over the business.
Bill had been involved in the community as an assistant Boy Scout Master and then quickly became Head Scout Master. He also managed the Rolling Prairie Pony League Team for five years. The First Christian Church of Rolling Prairie is Bill's church home. He served one year as a deacon and eighteen years as a Deacon Trustee. He also served as the Chairman of Deacons and Trustees.
Fishing, playing cards, and gardening were some of Bill's hobbies. His favorite hobby was collecting and restoring old Allis Chalmers tractors. Bill, along with his restored tractors, has been in many La Porte 4th of July parades.
Bill dearly loved his children and great-grandchildren. He was devoted to his family and he was devoted to God. For a long time, Bill's favorite Bible verse was John 3:16. More recently, he had found comfort in John 14:2-3, "My Father's house has many rooms: if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
A time of visitation will be held from 3-7 pm on Monday, November 11, 2013 and 9-10 am Tuesday, November 12 at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10 am on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at the funeral home with Rev. Ransom Ebersole officiating. Full Military Honors will take place at Rolling Prairie Cemetery following the service.
Memorial Contributions may be directed to the VFW Post #9423, PO Box 61, Rolling Prairie, IN 46371 or to the American Cancer Society, 130 Red Coach Dr., Mishawaka, IN 46545.
Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com.