Robert Baxter Childress

Robert Baxter Childress, 89, passed away on Wednesday, March 16, 2011, in Abilene, Texas at Hendrick Medical Center. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at Oldham Lane Church of Christ with Chris McCurley and Lowell Maxey officiating. Interment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Born on April 27, 1921 in Sweetwater, Texas, Bob was the son of Dan and Eula Mae Childress. The family moved to Eastland where he graduated from Eastland High School in May, 1939. He attended Oklahoma A & M, and after taking a break to serve in the U. S. Army Air Corps and to work on the family farm, graduated with a degree in Animal Husbandry. After moving to Abilene, he taught agriculture classes to returning veterans in the Taylor County Vocational School. Bob married Mary Page on June 5, 1947. They had two children, Dan and Barbara. He owned and operated Childress Tractor Company on North Treadaway from 1953-1972. He also oversaw operation of Page & Childress, Inc., a family ranch in Stonewall County from 1969-2003. Bob served on the Abilene City Council from 1969-1974, and with the West Texas Municipal Water District. He was a charter member of Southwest Rotary Club of Abilene. He served as an elder for Baker Heights Church of Christ for many years and then served at Oldham Lane Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Dan Childress and Hiram Childress. Survivors include his wife, Mary Page Childress of Abilene; son, Dan Childress and wife JoAnne of Zephyr, Texas; daughter, Barbara Dunn and husband Eddie of Abilene; two granddaughters, April Dunn of Midland and Ashley Dunn of Lubbock; one brother-in-law, William Page of Abilene; and one sister-in-law, Juanita Childress of Temple; and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Larry Bell, Clay Peterson, Steve Jividen, James McCoy, Chris Atkins and Kenneth Longley. The family expresses special thanks to Dr. Fakhoury, Dr. David Longley, and the staff at the Abilene Dialysis Center for all of their care. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christian Service Center, 901 Mesquite St., Abilene, TX 79601, or a favorite charity.