He was born August 11, 1935, to Metta Irene Havill Childress and Gordon Goodman Childress, the youngest of seven children. Don grew up on a farm, in a Christian home in Lawrenceville, Illinois. He attended Maple Grove School, a one-room schoolhouse, and graduated from Lawrenceville Township High School (LTHS), valedictorian of his class. He knew Christ as His Savior from a very young age and grew up going to Pleasant Ridge Christian Church, a special place to him.
Upon graduating from LTHS, he went on to receive his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois (U of I) in Chemical Engineering, with Highest Honors, followed by his Masters in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University. While at the U of I, he completed the United States Army Corps of Engineers ROTC program and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He served active duty and then reserve status before receiving an honorable discharge in October 1963.
Upon receiving his undergraduate degree, he accepted an offer to work for The Texas Company/Texaco and worked there 38 years before retiring at the age of 59. He and Dixie made some very special lifelong friendships with people Don worked with at Texaco.
He married Dixie Carmen Fiscus on October 8, 1961. A transfer with Texaco from Lawrenceville to Houston, Texas in March 1965 is where they would settle and raise their two children.
Throughout his entire life, Don’s Christian faith was the most important thing to him. He was a godly, Christ like man who lived out his faith. He was active in the church serving numerous terms as a Deacon, Treasurer, and Sunday School teacher. Don also served on the Board of the Hospitality Apartments.
He loved spending time with his family and friends. He loved to attend and received great joy going to the numerous extracurricular events of his three grandchildren, whom he dearly loved. He enjoyed weekly golf outings with buddies from two different golf groups, one affectionately coined themselves “The Senior Hackers”.
Don is survived by his wife of 57 years, Dixie; two children, Phyllis Childress of Scottsdale, AZ, Don and Shannon Childress of Houston, TX; and grandchildren Peyton Michelle Childress, Kyle Goodman Childress, and Claire Jennings Childress.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Hospitality Apartments, P. O. Box 25213, Houston, TX 77265-5213.
