Joseph "Tommy" Thomas Childers

Tommy was born June 12, 1932 in Houston, Texas. During childhood he lived in farming areas of Rosebud, Bynum and Malone. Later he served in the National Guard Tank Infantry and was honorably discharged in October 1953. He served in the Air Force as an airman aircraft mechanic, stationed in Japan where he performed rescue and supply missions, discharged in February 1956. Tommy was then station in Honolulu where he participated in atmospheric tests flew into hurricanes to send reports to the weather bureau, discharged in June 1960.

After the Air Force he worked a combination of Civil Service jobs, continuing as an air craft mechanic and a Peace Officer in Houston, Copperas Cove, Ballinger, and Gatesville.

Tommy was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church; then he served as Council Member and Elder, mostly at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Copperas Cove. He also assisted with Sunday School and drove the Sunday School bus. He and his wife are charter members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Honolulu.

Tommy is survived by wife, Elvira Grace (Kokel) Childers; son, Joseph Wayne Childers; daughter, Catherine Grace Washburn; four grandchildren, Jonathan, Jeremy, Christine and Charles; and four great grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Edgar Childers; four sisters, Frances Griffin, Annie Mae Bleeker, Emma Fobes and Josephine Tisdale.

A funeral service for Tommy will be held Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 922 Lutheran Church Rd, Copperas Cove, Texas. Following the funeral service will be a burial to follow at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Copperas Cove, Texas.

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