Dad passed away at the age of 84 on Monday, May 5th of causes related to M.S. He was born March 6, 1930 in Centerfield, Utah to Darrel David Childs (Centerfield) and Lela Johanna Christensen (Levan). He was the 4th of four children.
Being born and raised during the Depression, his childhood was very difficult. His father became ill when he was 10 and at the age of 15, they moved to Salt Lake for better medical care for his father.
Attended Granite High School where he excelled in Track and Field and won 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons in the 440 relay and shuttle relay. Won 1st place playing baseball and also played on the basketball team.
He served honorably in the coldest war ever, the Korean War. Upon returning home he met and married Marlene Joy Nielson. They had two children, Cindy and Mark. Later they divorced.
Later he met and married Jeanette Ishmael where he gained four more children; Teri, JoAnn, John and Pat. Jeanette passed away in April 2010.
He worked at Hill Air Force Base for 30 years and retired as an Electronics Technician working on Flight Simulators for the purpose of training pilots. He traveled all over the United States and to all the Air Force Bases with his work. He always said he could fly any plane.
Dad found beauty in small things. Watching the quail eating bird seed from the side of his bed, the beautiful mountains, blue sky and green grass.
Dad loved hunting, fishing, dancing, going to Wendover and especially golf. He enjoyed traveling and going on long drives, seeing a road and finding out where it ended.
Survived by Cindy and Marlin Bigler, Mark and Linda Childs, Teri and Dennis Angus, JoAnn and Bruce Smith, John and Sheryl Ishmael and Pat and Scott Reed. 13 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Also sister, Aunt Nelda Petersen (Washington State). Preceded in death by parents, baby brother Rulan and sister Nedra Bird.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 S.) in Sandy. A visitation will be held on Friday evening from 6-8pm and one hour prior to the services on Saturday. Online condolences welcomed at www.larkincares.com.
A special thanks to those who attended to dad from the V.A. and especially the wonderful people at Rocky Mountain Care and Hospice in Murray.
