Carter County, Tennessee, Obituaries: Roy K. Childress Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Bristol Herald Courier http://www.bristolnews.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=TRI/Page/TRI_FrontPage ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bristol Herald Courier Thursday, February 20, 2003 Roy K. Childress ELIZABETHTON -- Roy K. Childress, 84, 1012 Circle Drive, died Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003, at this residence following an extended illness. He was a native of Staunton, Va. Mr. Childress was the son of the late William Roy Childress, for whom the Brown-Childress Football Stadium was named and Edith Pauline Price Childress, violinist and Sunday School teacher. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Bristol Virginia, and attended First Baptist Church and Grace Baptist Church, Elizabethton. He was a former president of the 60-member Men's Bible Class. Mr. Childress operated the family business, Childress Hardware and Hatchery, after the death of his father. He accepted an offer with the Muir Drug Co. in Evansville, Ind., as assistant manager. He joined the new store staff of Sears Roebuck and Co. in Bristol Tennessee as the advertising and promotional manager. After 30 years of Sears management positions, he retired from the company. Mr. Childress studied piano becoming a jazz piano player. He organized a 15-piece dance band while still in high school. He was one of the original entertainers of Radio Station WBEJ having a program, "Artistry in Rhythm". WBEJ opened in 1946. He was an Elizabethton High School graduate and was a member of the Elizabethton High School Band for four years. Later he was a graduate of Tennessee Aircraft Institute, the Army Administrative School at Fort Logan, Colorado. He also obtained a business education including schools in kitchen, plumbing, heating and air condition design and installation. He was a World War II veteran, having served in the U.S. Army Air Force in China. He was attached to the 14th Air Force 68th Composite Wing under the command of General Chenault and attained the rank of staff sergeant. He was honorably discharged. He joined the Reserves and after three years of service was honorably discharged. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son and a brother, Howard (Hank) Childress, who was a member of the 1938 championship football team and an all-star end at Elizabethton. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Lee Bunting Childress of the home, who he married in 1948. She was an elementary school teacher in Bristol Tennessee and taught 33 years before retiring. He had one son and daughter-in-law, Roy Kenneth Childress II and Michelle Childress of Bristol Virginia, and a grandson, Kenneth Logan Childress. He is also survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Frank Robinson, Elizabethton; and several nieces, nephews and first cousins. The funeral service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, in the Chapel of Peace at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Rev. Ron Owens officiating. Music will be under the direction of Fred and Carol Goodwin. The graveside service and interment will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Charlie Robinson, Clyde Jenkins, Todd Isaacs, Phil Isaacs, Thomas Isaacs, Nathan Goodwin, Josh Robinson and Bud Julian. Honorary pallbearers will be retired employees of Sears, Dr. David Jones, Dr. Frank Johnson, Dr. Bryan C. May, Frank Robinson, Millard Fitzsimmons and Raymond Isaacs. A special thank you to Adventa Hospice. Those who plan to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at the cemetery at 1:55 p.m. on Friday. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, in the Chapel of Peace Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to First Baptist Church of Elizabethton, Mission Fund, 212 East F St., Elizabethton, TN 37643 or to American Cancer Society, 209 S. Riverside Dr., Elizabethton, TN 37643. Words of sympathy may be sent to the family via email address condolences@tetrickfuneralhome.com. Tetrick Funeral Home 423-542-2232.