Willard Cecil Childs
December 27, 1917 — June 15, 2016
CHILDS
Willard Cecil, age 98, died peacefully at home on Wednesday June 15, 2016. He was born at Travelers Rest in Owsley County, Kentucky on December 27, 1917 and was educated in the schools of Kentucky and Ohio.
Willard was the son of George Frazier and Mamie (Flannery) Childs. On June 2, 1942 he married Hester Eloise Barber in Anniston, Alabama and they recently celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary!
He was a lifetime member of Redeemer Church in Hamilton. Willard was a WWII Army veteran receiving 4 Bronze Stars and 1 Bronze Arrowhead. He served in both Italy and North Africa. Additionally, he was a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, a lifetime member of VFW Post #1069, Washington Lodge #17 F.&A.M., Hamilton Chapter #21 Royal Arch Masons, Hamilton Counsel #19 Royal and Select Masons, Hamilton Commandery #41 Knight Templer, Washington Chapter #195 Order of the Eastern Star, and Hamilton High Twelve Club #414. He retired from the Butler County Welfare Dept. in 1980.
Willard is survived by his loving wife and daughters, Etta Jo (William) Shackleford and Judy Elaine (Douglas) Clawson. He will also be greatly missed by his four granddaughters, Sherri Heiman, Tammy (Rick) Langford, Tiffany (Glenn) Ligouri, and Stacie (Justin) Waddell. He is also survived by 8 great grandsons and 1 great granddaughter, Tyler Langford, Trevor (Katlyn) Langford; Ian Heiman, Ryan, Jason, Niklas, and Shae Ligouri; Charlie and Hadley Waddell. He was also blessed to have one great-great granddaughter, Kyrii Langford. Willard is also survived by a sister Emma Kathleen Hoffman. He is preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Carol Sue Childs, and 2 brothers, Charles Estil and James Marvin Childs.
Funeral services will be held at Redeemer Church, 3431 Hamilton Middletown Rd., Hamilton, OH on June 20, 2016 with Rev. Craig Pinley officiating. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. with funeral service following at 11:30 a.m. Entombment will be at the Rose Hill Burial Park Mausoleum. Donations in remembrance may be given to the charity of your choice. Condolences may be offered at www.avancefuneralhome.com