Lyle E. Childs

Lyle Edgar Childs, 89, of Cottonwood died December 30. He was born October 12, 1919 in Opportunity, Nebraska, the son of Richard M. and Martha E. Childs. He attended Tilden Nebraska schools and attended Minnesota Bible College. He served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force during World War II, where he officiated at a large number of weddings of soldiers going off to war. He worked at the Mayo Clinic with cancer patients, was active with Angels Unaware, Inc. a foundation founded by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans to assist developmentally disabled persons. He worked in the publishing a printing business where he established Christian Publishing in Texas for the Emmanuel School of Religion in Illinois. He owned and operated Action Press and Prescott and was a previous owner of the Ad King in Cottonwood for seven years. Mr. Childs had been an English teacher. He drove a school bus for many years. He also had worked as a chef at L\u0027Auberge Restaurant in Sedona. Active in community organizations, he had served as president of the Archeological Society in the 70\u0027s, as president of Civitan, was past president of the Cottonwood Lions Club and served on the Camp Tatiyee, a Lions sponsored camp for handicapped children, board of directors. He had been an active member of the Verde Valley Christian Church where he taught bible classes. For 12 years served the Wayside Chapel in Sedona and gave communion and also assisted other area churches. He enjoyed square dancing, carpentry and cooking. Mr. Childs was preceded in death by his sons, Ralph Prudencio Childs, Robert Childs, brothers, James, Ralph and Richard Childs and a sister Audrey Heese. He leaves his devoted wife of 31 years, Escolastica "Tek" Amor Childs; son Estephen (Mary Ann) Childs of California; daughters, Linda Childs (Larry) Walden of New Mexico and Melissa Childs of Prescott; a sister Marjorie (Charles) Conger of Iowa; six grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, January 24 at the Verde Valley Christian Church at 2 PM. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com