William Howard Childers

William Howard Childers, 94, of Cleveland went to be with the Lord and his loving wife Elsie on Thursday, April 29, 2010. Born at Canton, NC, in 1915, he was a member of the "Great Generation." He served in the North Carolina National Guard prior to World War II and in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater for four years during the war. After the war and until 1954 he worked at the Champion Paper Mill in Canton, NC when he moved his family to Cleveland to help start up Bowater Southern Paper Corporation in Calhoun, TN. He retired in 1977. He attended the First Baptist Church of Cleveland for fifty years and was a committed and loving father, grandfather, brother and friend. He was a strong supporter of veteran organizations and a member of the American Legion and VFW. With his kind and loving heart and passion for retired Bowater employees he spent many hours visiting and ministering to many of them in the hospital and during other times of trial. He was never too busy to watch his favorite football teams- Tennessee Vols and North Carolina. He was proceeded in death by his wife of seventy years, Elsie, his parents, Perry and Watte Childers; brothers, Marshall and James Childers; two sisters, Margaret and Grace; brother- in- law, Thomas "Bud" Wood; three granddaughters, Nonna Lee Childers, Shannon Chambers and Lynne Coppinger and niece, Susan Wood Bofink. He is survived by his four children: Jerry Childers and wife Mary Jane of Chattanooga, Mary Lane Timpany and husband Dave of Cleveland, Sharon Clark and husband Waylon of Jefferson, GA., Alan Childers and wife Julie of Knoxville. Grandchildren: Bill Childers, Tom Childers, Dawn Kimball, Cindy Robertson, Jon Coppinger, Shaun Coppinger, Nancy Childers and Brian Childers; twelve great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren, sister in law, Evelyn Wood; several nieces and nephews and many special friends. He lived his life with love and concern for others and dedicated his life to serving Jesus Christ. Howard had a delightful sense of humor. He will be greatly missed. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held Sunday, May 2, 2010 at 3:00 pm in the chapel of Fike Funeral Home with Rev. Tom Moncrief officiating. Howard will be laid to rest next to his wife at Sunset Memorial Gardens. A white dove release ceremony will conclude the service. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Sunday. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Childers family guestbook at fikefh.com.