Florence, SC. – Bobby Leo Childress, 76, of Florence, SC, peacefully transitioned to his Heavenly Home, surrounded by his loving family, Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at MUSC-Charleston, SC.
Funeral services will be Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel at Florence Memorial Gardens, 3320 S. Cashua Drive, Florence, SC, with Military Honors. Entombment will follow the service.
Born in Mount Airy, NC, to the late Leo and Lola Childress, he graduated from Mount Airy High School, where he was a member of the football and basketball teams. His football talents earned him a football scholarship to Catawba College, where he played four years, graduating in 1966. Soon after college, Bob joined the South Carolina Army National Guard, where he enjoyed a long and successful career, retiring as a Colonel and Battalion Commander of the 1st 263rd Armored Division, headquartered in Dillon, SC. During his time in service, his Division was activated for Operation Desert Storm. In his professional career, Bob was a Plant Manager for Burlington Industries and J.P. Stevens at both the Brookneal, VA and Clemson, SC Plants. Bob spent many years of his career in Brookneal, where he was active in boating/fishing, camping, hunting and generally enjoying his family. His career took him to Bacova, VA, where he was Vice-President of Bacova Guild. He moved to Greenwood, SC, as co-owner and co-founder of Prestige Prints and later retired with Loom Craft, Inc. of Belton, SC.
Bob spent many years as a football official with the SC High School Football Officials Association and the NCAA South Atlantic Conference, where he made many friends and officiating associates. Bob’s passions in life, including that of his deep faith in Jesus Christ, was spending time with his grandchildren, travel, football officiating, and spending time at Edisto Beach. He and Carolyn spent many years in the local shag club where they loved dancing and spending time with friends. Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Judith Miller Childress. He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Mary Carolyn Woodham Childress; children, Shawn Childress (Pam) of El Dorado, Ark, Julia Childress Khaled, ESQ (Ben) of Rock Hill, SC, and Carolyn’s children, Leslie Privette Capobianco, Sam Privette, Kelly Privette Ratcliff (Rocky), all of Hartsville, SC, and his brother, Jack Childress (Donna) of Greenwood, SC.
The family will receive friends after the service at Hoffmeyer Road Baptist Church, 2317 Hoffmeyer Road, Florence, where the ladies of the Church will graciously provide lunch.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675
You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.laytonandersonfh.com
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