Published in The Anchorage Daily News, 09/02/21:
James "Jim" Richard Childs was born on June 8, 1935, in Montebello, Calif., to Howard and Mae Childs, joining brothers Howard and Don. Several years later the family moved to Florence, Ore. At 18, he married Elaine Coffer. After the birth of their four sons, the forest department made an offer for their property on the McKenzie River. Accepting the offer, the six of them headed north to Alaska landing in Palmer. After a year in Palmer they made their way to Delta Junction, Alaska, where they raised their boys David, Tim, Danny and Steve.
In 1968, Jim made his way to Prudhoe Bay and was one of the individuals on the first drill site. He saw his future there and with Elaine's help, in 1975, became a private contractor in Prudhoe Bay. Together they built Childs Equipment, Prudhoe Bay General Store, a Travel Agency and ran the local Post Office. The companies in Prudhoe became a family affair, with Elaine and the boys all joining him.
In 1986, Jim and Elaine left Prudhoe for city life, running several contract businesses between Fairbanks and Anchorage. They enjoyed traveling, spending winters in Hawaii, and Lake Powell, Ariz. After Elaine passed in 1995, Jim kept a few of the businesses running until 2016, when he hung up his hat for the Arizona weather. He became a snowbird with his longtime companion Christine Chalder, spending winters in Yuma and summers in Alaska, mostly in Valdez on his boat fishing. Jim was happiest with a fishing pole in hand.
Jim is survived by his children, Tim and wife Geri of Fairbanks, Steve and wife Sylvia of Wasilla; daughter-in-law, Diana of North Pole; 11 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers; wife, Elaine; and sons, Danny and David.
Jim passed away peacefully on Aug. 18, 2021. Funeral services will be held on Sept. 4, 2021, in Fairbanks at The Chapel of the Chimes, at noon, and burial at 3 p.m., at Northern Lights Cemetery, with a Celebration of Life to follow at the Mushers Hall.
James "Jim" Richard Childs was born on June 8, 1935, in Montebello, Calif., to Howard and Mae Childs, joining brothers Howard and Don. Several years later the family moved to Florence, Ore. At 18, he married Elaine Coffer. After the birth of their four sons, the forest department made an offer for their property on the McKenzie River. Accepting the offer, the six of them headed north to Alaska landing in Palmer. After a year in Palmer they made their way to Delta Junction, Alaska, where they raised their boys David, Tim, Danny and Steve.
In 1968, Jim made his way to Prudhoe Bay and was one of the individuals on the first drill site. He saw his future there and with Elaine's help, in 1975, became a private contractor in Prudhoe Bay. Together they built Childs Equipment, Prudhoe Bay General Store, a Travel Agency and ran the local Post Office. The companies in Prudhoe became a family affair, with Elaine and the boys all joining him.
In 1986, Jim and Elaine left Prudhoe for city life, running several contract businesses between Fairbanks and Anchorage. They enjoyed traveling, spending winters in Hawaii, and Lake Powell, Ariz. After Elaine passed in 1995, Jim kept a few of the businesses running until 2016, when he hung up his hat for the Arizona weather. He became a snowbird with his longtime companion Christine Chalder, spending winters in Yuma and summers in Alaska, mostly in Valdez on his boat fishing. Jim was happiest with a fishing pole in hand.
Jim is survived by his children, Tim and wife Geri of Fairbanks, Steve and wife Sylvia of Wasilla; daughter-in-law, Diana of North Pole; 11 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers; wife, Elaine; and sons, Danny and David.
Jim passed away peacefully on Aug. 18, 2021. Funeral services will be held on Sept. 4, 2021, in Fairbanks at The Chapel of the Chimes, at noon, and burial at 3 p.m., at Northern Lights Cemetery, with a Celebration of Life to follow at the Mushers Hall.
Published in The Anchorage Daily News, 09/02/21:
James "Jim" Richard Childs was born on June 8, 1935, in Montebello, Calif., to Howard and Mae Childs, joining brothers Howard and Don. Several years later the family moved to Florence, Ore. At 18, he married Elaine Coffer. After the birth of their four sons, the forest department made an offer for their property on the McKenzie River. Accepting the offer, the six of them headed north to Alaska landing in Palmer. After a year in Palmer they made their way to Delta Junction, Alaska, where they raised their boys David, Tim, Danny and Steve.
In 1968, Jim made his way to Prudhoe Bay and was one of the individuals on the first drill site. He saw his future there and with Elaine's help, in 1975, became a private contractor in Prudhoe Bay. Together they built Childs Equipment, Prudhoe Bay General Store, a Travel Agency and ran the local Post Office. The companies in Prudhoe became a family affair, with Elaine and the boys all joining him.
In 1986, Jim and Elaine left Prudhoe for city life, running several contract businesses between Fairbanks and Anchorage. They enjoyed traveling, spending winters in Hawaii, and Lake Powell, Ariz. After Elaine passed in 1995, Jim kept a few of the businesses running until 2016, when he hung up his hat for the Arizona weather. He became a snowbird with his longtime companion Christine Chalder, spending winters in Yuma and summers in Alaska, mostly in Valdez on his boat fishing. Jim was happiest with a fishing pole in hand.
Jim is survived by his children, Tim and wife Geri of Fairbanks, Steve and wife Sylvia of Wasilla; daughter-in-law, Diana of North Pole; 11 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers; wife, Elaine; and sons, Danny and David.
Jim passed away peacefully on Aug. 18, 2021. Funeral services will be held on Sept. 4, 2021, in Fairbanks at The Chapel of the Chimes, at noon, and burial at 3 p.m., at Northern Lights Cemetery, with a Celebration of Life to follow at the Mushers Hall.
James "Jim" Richard Childs was born on June 8, 1935, in Montebello, Calif., to Howard and Mae Childs, joining brothers Howard and Don. Several years later the family moved to Florence, Ore. At 18, he married Elaine Coffer. After the birth of their four sons, the forest department made an offer for their property on the McKenzie River. Accepting the offer, the six of them headed north to Alaska landing in Palmer. After a year in Palmer they made their way to Delta Junction, Alaska, where they raised their boys David, Tim, Danny and Steve.
In 1968, Jim made his way to Prudhoe Bay and was one of the individuals on the first drill site. He saw his future there and with Elaine's help, in 1975, became a private contractor in Prudhoe Bay. Together they built Childs Equipment, Prudhoe Bay General Store, a Travel Agency and ran the local Post Office. The companies in Prudhoe became a family affair, with Elaine and the boys all joining him.
In 1986, Jim and Elaine left Prudhoe for city life, running several contract businesses between Fairbanks and Anchorage. They enjoyed traveling, spending winters in Hawaii, and Lake Powell, Ariz. After Elaine passed in 1995, Jim kept a few of the businesses running until 2016, when he hung up his hat for the Arizona weather. He became a snowbird with his longtime companion Christine Chalder, spending winters in Yuma and summers in Alaska, mostly in Valdez on his boat fishing. Jim was happiest with a fishing pole in hand.
Jim is survived by his children, Tim and wife Geri of Fairbanks, Steve and wife Sylvia of Wasilla; daughter-in-law, Diana of North Pole; 11 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers; wife, Elaine; and sons, Danny and David.
Jim passed away peacefully on Aug. 18, 2021. Funeral services will be held on Sept. 4, 2021, in Fairbanks at The Chapel of the Chimes, at noon, and burial at 3 p.m., at Northern Lights Cemetery, with a Celebration of Life to follow at the Mushers Hall.
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