Rayburn Childers

Rayburn Glenn Childers, 84, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully on March 7, 2008 at Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver, WA after a short bout with kidney cancer.

Rayburn was born on December 24, 1923, to Glenn Wilson Childers and Eunice Marie (Neff) Childers in Campus, Kansas. He was the second of six siblings. All of his siblings except his sister, Jane Schlittenhardt of Arizona, preceded him in death.

Ray was a WWII veteran who served in the European Theatre in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Glider Division. He was honorably discharged on January 18, 1946.

Ray married Cleo Mae Macy in 1954. The couple spent 48 years together before Cleo’s death on February 26, 2003.

He retired from the Burlington Northern Railroad after more than 40 years of service and spent many happy years in retirement.

His many hobbies included community service, woodworking, computing, photography and craft work.

Although not recently active, he attained the 32nd degree in Masonry. He was active in the church and community and particularly enjoyed his volunteer work with AWANA. Some of Ray’s biggest joys were the lasting and close friendships he built.

Ray is survived by sons Daniel Leonard Childers (wife Judy) and David Lawrence Childers (wife Vicki) and families of Florida.; daughter Cleo Ray Childers (partner Vee) and family of Vancouver, Washington and daughter Patricia Jones of Tulare, California. His children and their families which include ten grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren were all a significant part of Ray’s life.

Memorials were to be given in his name.

Ray’s memorial celebration was held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at the McCook Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Jeff Thurman officiating.

Inurnment took place in Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook, Nebraska with military honors.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook was in charge of the arrangements.

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