Billie W. Childers

Billie W. Childers, age 88, of Forest City, passed away Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

Billie was born Thursday, May 23, 1935 in Rutherford County to the late Jesse Childers and Hettie Humphries Childers. He was a graduate of Tri-High School, class of 1953 and also attended Isothermal Community College and Gardner-Webb University. He served his country honorably in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He worked many years for Duke Power as a Regional Millwright Superintendent before retirement. Billie was a member of Caroleen United Methodist Church. He was an endowed member of the Cliffside Masonic Lodge #460 and twice a Past Master.  As a member of the Scottish Rite, he was a 32^nd degree Mason. Billie had the distinction of being a certified lecturer and a Past DDGL and DDGM on the State Masonic level. He loved all kinds of sports such as golfing and softball and spent time coaching Little League Baseball. Billie was a local historian who loved the area where he lived and grew up. He also enjoyed writing songs and poems. He will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved him.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, William “Chili” Childers; brothers, Jessie B. Childers, Robert Lee Childers and brother-in-law, Henry Hoyle.

Those left to treasure his memory include his loving wife of seventy years, Neely Childers; daughter, Abbe C. Byers (P.J.) of Forest City; grandchildren, Christopher Byers (Cassie) of Forest City, Cameron Byers (Sarah) of Forest City, Dallas Childers of Newton, NC and Christian Brotherton (Seth) of Conover, NC; great-grandchildren, Jackson Byers, Jillian Byers, Jeryn Byers and Memphis Byers; daughter-in-law, Julia Childers of Newton; sisters-in-law, Trina Hoyle of Myrtle Beach, Jenny Childers of Gaffney and a number of nieces and nephews.

A graveside service for family and close friends will be conducted at 12:00 pm on Friday, October 6th at Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery with Pastor Lanny J. Funchess officiating. Military honors will be accorded by the Rutherford County Honor Guard. The family will receive friends immediately following the graveside service.

The body will lie in state from 8:00 until 11:00 am at the funeral home on Friday.

 Memorial donations are requested to the Caroleen United Methodist Church, PO Box 187, Caroleen, NC 28019 or to the charity of one’s choice.