Don Earl Childers

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband and father, Don E Childers. He passed away in The Woodlands Memorial Hermann Hospital after a long illness. He was 86 years old.

Don was proceeded in death by his father Emuel N Childers, his mother Ina C. Childers and his brother Floyd Joe. Don is survived by his wife Patricia Childers, his son Mark E. Childers, his daughter Lori L. Burns and Grandchildren, Karissa and Jeremy Fike of Angleton, Texas, Aaron and Emily Childers of Magnolia, Texas and Ashton and Alyssa Childers of Montgomery, Texas. A sister Mary Lee and a brother Roy of the Dallas, Texas area.

Don grew up in central and northern Oklahoma. He lived in Ponca City, Oklahoma when he joined the Navy in August 1954. He proudly served aboard the Navy destroyer, The USS Halsey Powell (DD 686). based out of Long Beach, California. He received a China Service Medal for his service in the Pacific during those years. After service in the Navy, he returned to Ponca City. It was there in March of 1959 that he met his wife, Patricia. In January of 1965 Don and Patricia, moved to Houston, Texas. and in 1967 Don went to work at the NASA facility in Clear Lake City, Texas.

It was there that Don started his long, much-loved career in the field of NDT. (Nondestructive testing). It was an interesting and exciting time to be involved in the Space Industry. In the 1970'S Don went to work for Southwestern Laboratories, an Engineering and NDT Company in north Houston. After several years there he went to work for Metco/Mistras Group and served as their NDT Corporate Level III for several years. He was a consultant and taught NDT methods for several Companies in the Greater Houston area, Montgomery County, and the Montgomery County Community College. He was a member and ASNT Fellow of the Greater Houston American Society of Non-destructive Testing. A person awarded as an ASNT Fellow is acknowledged and honored for outstanding service in the field of NDT. Don and his wife Patricia were early supporters of the National and the Houston Chapter of ASNT and watched it grow to be what it is today.

After Don retired, he relaxed doing gardening and spending time with his family. He was an avid reader, movie fan, and enjoyed doing both with his twin Tabby lap cats, Zee and GiGi. He could rarely tell them apart but had fun relating their antics. Throughout the years of his life, he kept his friends and family entertained with his Navy, hunting, fishing, canoeing, travel and work-related stories. We miss you Don.

In lieu of flowers and in memory of Don, the family requests donations be made to The Wounded Veterans and/or Disabled Veterans. A Memorial Service and inurnment are pending.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cashnerconroe.com for the Childers family.