1932
Donald
2021
Donald Richard Childs
July 4, 1932 — September 4, 2021
Donald Richard Childs passed away peacefully in his sleep, on Saturday, September 4, 2021. He was a change of life baby who was delivered at the family farm house by his oldest sister on July 4th, 1932. His mother would joke that he ruined her favorite holiday.
As a child, he thought people were shooting fireworks to celebrate his birthday. He married his childhood sweetheart, Donna Jean, in 1952. When Donald was in the army, he was assigned to assist Field Marshall Montgomery in NATO. His bride joined him where they enjoyed living in Paris and touring Europe (including visiting the Brussels World's Fair in 1958) during their time there. They had their two oldest children while in Paris, and met President Eisenhower during Montgomery's retirement celebration. The President of the United States personally offered Donald an assignment at the UN but he opted to be discharge from the service after serving two terms. They moved back home to Colorado and joined Burlington Northern Railroad.
In Colorado, they were blessed with the two younger children. He moved several times during his career, resulting in each child settling in a different state. He enjoyed road trips, trains, history, telling such interesting stories, and playing board games and cards with his family.
He is survived by his wife Donna Jean Nickle Childs of 69 years, daughter Debbie Kay Childs Sivis (Larry), daughter Danette Lee Childs O'Connell Paulson (Mark), daughter Denise Ann Childs Ekman Powell (Steve), son David Richard Childs (Camille), 11 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Center for Dementia Research in his honor to this site:
http://cdr.rfmh.org/support.html
As a child, he thought people were shooting fireworks to celebrate his birthday. He married his childhood sweetheart, Donna Jean, in 1952. When Donald was in the army, he was assigned to assist Field Marshall Montgomery in NATO. His bride joined him where they enjoyed living in Paris and touring Europe (including visiting the Brussels World's Fair in 1958) during their time there. They had their two oldest children while in Paris, and met President Eisenhower during Montgomery's retirement celebration. The President of the United States personally offered Donald an assignment at the UN but he opted to be discharge from the service after serving two terms. They moved back home to Colorado and joined Burlington Northern Railroad.
In Colorado, they were blessed with the two younger children. He moved several times during his career, resulting in each child settling in a different state. He enjoyed road trips, trains, history, telling such interesting stories, and playing board games and cards with his family.
He is survived by his wife Donna Jean Nickle Childs of 69 years, daughter Debbie Kay Childs Sivis (Larry), daughter Danette Lee Childs O'Connell Paulson (Mark), daughter Denise Ann Childs Ekman Powell (Steve), son David Richard Childs (Camille), 11 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Center for Dementia Research in his honor to this site:
http://cdr.rfmh.org/support.html
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Richard Childs, please visit our flower store.
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