MARK CHILDS

POPLAR BLUFF -- Mark L. Childs, 79, of Poplar Bluff died Friday, July 9, 1999, at the Missouri Veterans Home at Cape Girardeau.

He was born Feb. 26, 1920, at Appleton, Wis., son of Raymond and Ella Miller Childs. He and Geraldine Garner were married Dec. 30, 1972, at Sikeston.

Childs served with the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He had worked as a sales manager for the Fasweet Co. and was a member of the Westwood Baptist Church.

He was district commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America and had received the Scouters Key and Arrow awards. He had served as past president of the Jaycees and had worked on the state awards committee. Childs was a 50-year member and past post commander of Henry Meldrum Post 114. He helped to organize senior league baseball and served as manager. He was also a member of the 40 and 8 organization.

He is survived by his wife; three sons, Mark Childs Jr. of Springfield, Raymond Childs of Morehouse and Roger Childs of Denver, Colo.; a daughter, Jane Taylor of Sikeston; two sisters, Audrey Shema of Boynton Beach, Fla., and Helen Dittmer of Appleton; 17 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the chapel. The Rev. Steven Proctor will officiate, with burial to follow at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.