Arthur Childs

HARTLAND AND HAMPDEN - Arthur Donald Childs, or "Art", "Don", "Donnie" and Donald, as he was called, 81, passed on the evening of October 19, 2020. He was born on July 8, 1939, in Lewiston, Maine, one of five children to Edwin and Efthalia Childs.
Donald spent most of his childhood in Limington, Maine on the family's chicken farm, until the family moved to Connecticut. Donald graduated from Southington High School and then pursued further education at Tunxis Community College.
After high school, Donald followed his brother, Peter, into the Navy and served as a Navy Aviation Electronics and Guided Missileman. He often reminisced about the dangers of working on the deck of the USS Intrepid as a plane captain. After finishing his active duty tour and many years later, he joined the Army Reserves, serving with the 76th Infantry Training Division, until he retired as a First Sergeant at the age of 60.
Donald met the love of his life, Betty Ann (Judd), at his first job after his naval service while working in advertising for Superior Electric Company in Bristol, Connecticut. He told anyone who would listen that, "He was going to marry that girl in the window who did office payroll." Art held several sales related jobs, to include Schaefer Brewing Company where he won a 1970 Mustang for his excellence and hard work. He eventually transitioned to Proctor and Gamble, and worked as an accountant manager until he retired.
Even though Donald worked full-time and served in the Army Reserves, he also found time for community service. He was a 35 year member of Hampden Kiwanis, holding every executive position. He was still setting up the monthly Bean Suppers well into his 70's, which all the grandchildren loved to attend and "help". He also was a long time member of both Hampden, then Hartland's Planning Boards and Great Moose Lake Association.
Donald had many interests which included hunting, coin and stamp collecting, snowmobiling, vegetable gardening, playing cards, traveling, camping and enjoying Great Moose Lake, where he built a camp that became Betty and Donald's retirement home. We will fondly remember dad's sense of humor, his strong work ethic, his patriotism and military service, and his loyalty and love for his wife, Betty.
In addition to his parents, he was pre-deceased by brother-in-law, William Davilio.
He is survived by the "spark" of his life, his wife of 57 years, Betty Ann (Judd); his daughter, Colonel Brenda (Childs) Jordan and her husband, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Gary Jordan; three grandchildren, Justin Jordan, Captain Dillon Jordan and Mikala Jordan; daughter, Cindy and her husband, Lieutenant Colonel (retired Pilot) Greg, and two grandchildren, Emma and Noah from Hampden. He is also survived by his brother, Peter Childs and his wife, Linda; sisters, Connie Thies and her husband, Dennis, BJ Frosch and her husband, Gary, and Patsy Childs; sister-in-law, Pat Davilio; special cousin, Mary Ellen Griffith-Bossom; God-son, Scott Thies, and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Donald will have a private graveside service with military honors at Pine Grove Cemetery in Hartland, Maine. A celebration of life will be held at Hampden-Gilpatrick Chapel of Brookings-Smith, hopefully post-COVID, on 23 July 2021, from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Those who wish to remember Donald in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Alzheimers Research and Prevention Foundation at www.alzheimersPrevention.org or P.O. Box 30783, Tuscan, AZ 85751-0783. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.