Elmer Dale Childress, 79, of Sullivan died July 22, 2023, in St. Louis. Mr. Childress was born May 27, 1944, in De Soto, the son of the late Elmer and Alice Childress. He graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1962 and spent several years in the U.S. Army, serving as a radar operator in the firing process of ballistic missiles while stationed in Illinois. He briefly worked on DC-10 aircraft for Douglass, then took home courses from DeVry University to graduate with a degree in electrical engineering. He returned to Missouri and worked in various positions with Chrysler and Haake Manufacturing before going to work for Western Electric, which took him all over the country. He completed a bachelor’s degree from Tarkio College during this time. He retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone in 1999 after a 31-year career.
After his retirement, he moved to Sullivan and began selling insurance with the Knights of Columbus. He was a fourth-degree knight and served with the Knights of Columbus honor guard. He had a passion for travel, cars, and horses. He loved to attend car shows with his sons and ran a car show at the Saint Anthony Catholic Parish picnic to raise funds for the church. His love for horses got him into breeding, and he and his wife traveled to attend national and world equine shows. His mechanical skills and common-sense knowledge were a resource for many.
He is survived by his wife: Judy (Boyer) Childress, whom he married on May 22, 1965; two sons: Lonny Childress and Jason (Melissa) Childress of Sullivan; two grandchildren: Samantha Childress of Kansas City and Madison Childress of Chicago; two step-grandchildren: Joe (Sarah) Hartness and Kaylie (Lee) McKinney, both of Jefferson City; a brother: Vance Childress of Hillsboro; four sisters: Louise Brennan of Santa Maria, Calif., Viola (Willie) Hinch of Festus, Barbara (Kenny Miller) Amsden of Festus and Marilyn Hill of Festus; two brothers-in-law: Mark (Debbie) Boyer of De Soto and David (Yolanda) Womack of Hillsboro; a sister-in-law: Marilyn (Gordon) Redfield of De Soto; several nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by a brother: Paul Childress; two sisters: Loucille Bovier and Marie Shopp; his parents-in-law: Stephen and Fannie Boyer; his stepfather: John Goodwin; five brothers-in-law: Jim Brennan, Joe Amsden, Lee Boyer, Murrell Boyer and Lyndall Boyer; and three sisters-in-law: Becky Childress, Norma Boyer and Shirley Boyer.
Visitation is scheduled from 9 - 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11, at Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan. A memorial Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. that day at Saint Anthony Catholic Church, officiated by Father Paul Telken and Father Noah Waldman. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Saint Anthony Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Knights of Columbus Sullivan Council or the Saint Anthony Parish and School. Arrangements are under the direction of Eaton Funeral Home.