R.V. Childers

R.V. Childers was born in 1936 in the small town of Dorena, Mo. He was one of 11 children born to Charlie and Grace Childers. His family moved to Kentucky when he was a year old to avoid the flood of 1937. When R.V. turned 18 he moved to Largo, Fla. We often heard him say that when he saw Indian Rocks Beach, he thought he was in heaven. He worked various jobs and managed a very large egg farm for many years. He owned and operated a fertilizer business with his brother-in-law in Ellenton, Fla. After moving to Tennessee in 1975, he was employed at Goodyear for 17 years before retiring in 1993.
R.V. married the former Norma Fowlkes on July 21, 1957, in Clearwater, Fla. He and Norma had two children; Tajuana (Childers) Davis, who is married to Dr. Leland Duncan Davis of Union City, and Kevin Franklin Childers, who is married to Linda Wrather Childers of Bartlett. They had four grandchildren, Amy (Davis) McAdoo, married to Will McAdoo; Matthew Leland Davis; Samuel Tipton Childers; and Halle Katherine Childers. Two great-grandchildren include Marley McAdoo and Millie McAdoo.
After retirement, he returned to Florida each year to enjoy the warm weather and fellowship with old friends. One year he and a friend, Mackie Richey, caught over 1,200 fish from the lake they lived near in Winter Haven, Fla.
His biggest enjoyment was being with his family and teaching his “grands and greats” how to live off the land. He taught Matthew and Samuel how to hunt for deer, fox and squirrels and, of course, the art of fishing on the family farm. He took great pleasure in watching his offspring accomplish their goals. He was grateful that he was able to attend Matthew’s acceptance ceremony into UT Medical School last August in Memphis.
Pallbearers will be Dave Chaissen, Raymond Stevens, Dr. Roy Wrather, Joe Winberry, Dr. Leland Davis, Steve Allen and Bill Flood. Honorary pallbearers will be grandsons Matthew Davis, Samuel Childers and Will McAdoo
Special friends include Bill Kipp, Glen Wills, Jerry Duncan, Jerry Bailey, George Davis, Danny Witt, Michael Pfrommer, Lori Berner, Joyce Richey, Sharon Stevens, Jerry McColgan, Susie Flood, Robert and Carol Rose and many others.
His siblings are Mary Griggs of Winter Haven; Shirley Long of Jacksonville, Fla.; Johnny Childers of Columbia, S.C.; Betty Jo Gray of Union City; and Sue Kilpatrick of Hickman, Ky.
Brothers and sisters that we know he is reuniting with in heaven include Joyce Childers, Juanita McColgan, Wilma Cook, Donnie Childers and Charles Childers.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held at First Church of God on Miles Avenue in Union City Saturday at 2 p.m. His nephew, Ron Gray, and Dr. Roy Wrather and Steve Carr will deliver the message. We welcome others to submit comments that can be read to his friends and family.
He attended and was a member of Union City Second Baptist Church.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the hour of services Saturday at the church.
Edmaiston-Mosley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
“Poppie” was named by his first granddaughter, Amy. He died peacefully at home in his sleep after a fierce battle with cancer, one day after seeing his precious great-grandchildren, Marley and Millie.
Memorial contributions may take the form of donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-014.
To leave messages of condolence for the family, visit the funeral home website at www.emfuneralhome.com.