David C. Childers

Lt. Col. David C. Childers, (USAF Ret.), 82, of Sioux City died Thursday, April 26, 2007, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with Landmark Masonic Lodge 103 A.F.& A.M. and Offutt Air Force Base conducting the services. Visitation will be 1 to 4 p.m. today at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

David was born Nov. 19, 1924, in Denver, Colo., the son of Charles and Engra Childers. He grew up in Golden, Colo., and attended the Colorado School of Mines. He joined the U.S. Army in 1943. He served as a U.S. Air Force pilot during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam conflict. He retired after 32 years of service. Dave was awarded the Bronze Star, Air Medal, American Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal as well as other awards and medals.

He married Betty L. Booth on Nov. 23, 1976, in Omaha. Following his retirement from the Air Force, he moved to Sioux City and worked as a manager for Herman Brothers Trucking for three years. He then opened Little Kings Sandwich Shops on Pierce Street, the Southern Hills Mall and in the Terra Centre and operated those until he retired again.

After retirement, David loved to attend NASCAR races in Daytona Beach, Fla. He enjoyed traveling and had been to England, Hawaii, the Bahamas and Mexico.

He was a member of Landmark Masonic Lodge 103 A.F.&A.M., Abu Bekr Shrine Temple, the Foot Patrol and the Air Force Association.

Survivors include his wife, Betty of Sioux City; two sons, Glen Childers and his wife, Sandra of South Carolina, and Pat Childers of Fairfield, Calif.; a daughter, Kay Hagen and her husband, Gus of Omaha; a son-in-law, Doug Wood of Sergeant Bluff; a daughter-in-law, Mary Lou Childers of Omaha; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Lynn Wood; his mother, Engra Childers; and his grandmother.