Cover photo for Robert Childress's Obituary
Robert Childress Profile Photo

Robert Childress

March 15, 1936 — March 16, 2023

Apopka, FL

Robert Childress

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Robert Eli Childress III, 87. Our beloved spouse and father passed away at approximately 4:15 PM on March 16, 2023. He is survived by his spouse Katherine Childress and son Gary Childress.

Robert entered this world on March 15, 1936 in Douglas County, Missouri, born to Robert Jr. and wife Melba Childress.

Soon after Robert was born, the family moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, where he grew up and attended school. After high school, Robert spent approximately one year at a university, but had to drop out due to lack of finances. In early 1956 he joined the Navy where he was assigned as a radioman onboard a Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star (a Super Constellation airliner purposely built to serve as an early warning radar platform). While in the Navy he was well known as an exceptional radioman, earning a "Good Conduct Medal" in early 1959. Late in 1959 he was discharged "honorably" from service in the US Navy having served his allotted time.

While in the service he met his future wife, Katherine at a dance hosted by a hotel in Washington D.C.. They married in 1960. In 1967 his son (and only child) Gary was born.

Robert spent most of his working life in the grocery business, starting out stocking and then moving to journeyman meat cutter. Later he would achieve the status of store manager. In the mid 1970's Robert became a small business owner, operating Robert's IGA, in Warrenton VA. The store went out of business some years later when the owner of the property sold it to be developed as a strip mall.

Robert returned to the grocery business as a store manager, later switching to the drug store business where he stocked shelves while working part time as a real estate agent. Finally he retired and moved to the state of Florida where he and Katherine spent the remainder of his life.

Robert was a devoted husband for 62 years and an exceptional father for 55. He started life dirt poor on a small family farm and ended it living in a two story middle class home. He was a good man who worked hard and never made an enemy. He never drank excessively, nor laid a hand on his family in anger. He will be profoundly missed by family and friends alike.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert Childress, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Visitation

Monday, March 27, 2023

5:30 - 7:30 pm (Eastern time)

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Graveside Service

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

10:00am - 2:00 pm (Eastern time)

Orlando Memorial Gardens

5264 Ingram Rd., Apopka, FL 32703

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