Charles Donald (Donnie) Childers – Christopher, IL

Don was born February, 12, 1933, in Benton Illinois to Charles (Chick) Childers and Bertha Jones Childers. Don passed away on May 12, 2021.

He was very proud to share his birth month and day with Abraham Lincoln. He joined brother Guy Richard Childers who was 5 years older. The family later moved to Christopher Illinois when Don was young. His father was a coal miner and his mother was a housewife. In 1943, Don asked for a “baby sister” for Christmas and on December 6, 1943 his sister Barbara Marianne was born. Don graduated from St Andrew Catholic Elementary School in Christopher and then attended St. James Trade School in Springfield Illinois in the bakery program.

His maternal grandparents Bess Boll Jones and Guy V. Jones Sr. ran a 24-hour donut/sandwich shop in Sesser Illinois catering to the swing shifts coming and going to the mines. In late 1940’s, Chick and Bertha purchased a fruit stand on N. Victor St. in Christopher and renamed it Maple Leaf Market. Don later began his first job there in a bakery, sandwich shop and small convenience store open seven days a week. In later years, as the mines began to close and business declined, Don started working at the Coca Cola Bottling Plant in Du Quoin, Illinois. He was forced to retire in his late 40’s due to severe arthritis. Don had many medical problems and a lot of pain throughout his 88 years of life.

Don was a devout Catholic and lifelong member of St Andrew Catholic Church. He was a very early member of the Christopher Knights of Columbus and regional 4th Degree K of C. He was a proud American and took part in many civic activities. Many will remember him from K of C Bingo nights and many fish fries. Don had a lot of fun being Santa for the little children. He loved all kids. He was a loyal supporter of the Christopher High School Bearcats teams. Anyone who knew him knew of his life-long passion for and support of the ST. Louis Cardinals. Whenever possible, he watched their games on television. He so enjoyed his trips to St Louis with family and K of C to baseball games and the Southern Illinois Miners games in Marion.

He was known for his friendliness and great smile. Don loved to travel. He went many times to Florida to visit and fish with his dad, brother Richard, and uncle Guy V. (Buster) Jones. He was also able to visit Disney World in summer of 1973 with Chick, sister Barbara’s family, and brother Richard’s family. He took many trips with local senior groups to Branson, Nashville, Memphis (Graceland), Dollywood, Springfield (Lincoln Museum), and riverboats in St Louis. He attended niece Dana’s wedding and nephew Kit’s wedding in California and visited Yosemite, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, John Muir Redwoods, Big Sur, and Monterey while there.

Another very special trip was to niece Karol Childers Turco’s wedding in Florida. One of his most cherished trips was with his sister Barbara to the inauguration of John F. Kennedy in Washington D.C. in January 1961. He loved hearing from family members as they traveled around the world. Don’s death was preceded by the deaths of paternal grandparents Charles E. and Josephine Butts Childers of Benton, maternal grandparents Guy V. and Bess Boll Jones of Christopher, mother Bertha Jones Childers and father Charles E. Childers of Christopher, brother Guy Richard Childers and his spouse Charmaine Van Zandt of Florida, maternal uncle Guy V. (Buster) Jones and spouses June Lamport and Ann Gilbert, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins in his Childers family. He leaves behind his grieving “baby sister” Barbara Childers Wichlan (Dan, his niece Dana Wichlan Wiest (John and their sons Christopher and Michael), nephews Paul and Matthew (Vincentine) in California and Christopher “Kit” (Hilga) Wichlan in Dubai UAE; nieces Kim Childers Orlando, Kris Childers Clark (Dennis and son Dennis Jr.)., Karol Childers Turco (John and son Nicholas and daughter Missy), and Kelly Childers Hunt (sons Anthony, Brandon and daughter Brittany and granddaughter Savannah), nephew Kyle Childers (Kay and son Kyle) of Florida; cousins Charles Vaughn and Carol Vaughn Edmonds and children; Barry Vaughn and family of Benton, Ill., and David Vaughn and family of Florida and Benton, Ill. Uncle Donnie is greatly missed by his many nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews.

He is especially missed by his many K of C and St Andrew’s friends and his very special long term devoted and loving “Girl Friday” of many years, Kathi Mezo (Karl and family) whom the family can never thank enough for her love and loyalty. Visitation is on Saturday July 24th from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at St Andrew Catholic Church, 412 E. Washington St., Christopher, Illinois 62822. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. His final resting place is St Andrew Cemetery in Christopher. In lieu of flowers a donation to the Christopher K of C Scholarship Fund is suggested –109 N. State Street; Christopher, Ill 62822. to celebrate Don, we invite those who attend to wear St. Louis Cardinals’ attire.