William Floyd Childress

William Floyd Childress

Oak Ridge, TN

William Floyd Childress, of Oak Ridge, died in the evening of

March 16th, at home with his loving family by his side. He was 79 and originally a native of Beckley, West Virginia. He was a lifelong journalist, philosopher, conversationalist, photographer, reader, and thinker. He married the love of his life, and loved his family. His personality, heart and presence will be greatly missed. Since retiring, he became focused on the philosophy and study of world religions. He was an elder at St. Albans Presbyterian Church, West Virginia, and became a devoted member of First Presbyterian Church, Oak Ridge. TN.

He was predeceased by his parents, Roy Chester Childress and Lillian Geraldine Hilbert Childress; and his brother, Jerry Ray Sutphin. He is survived his loving wife, Mary M. Childress; sister, Patty Anne Perdue; sister-in-law, Barbara Sutphin; children, Scott T. Childress, Knoxville, TN; daughter, Traci Childress,

Durham, NC; stepson, John McKinney, Oak Ridge, TN; daughters-in-law, Linda Childress, Elizabeth Chandler, and Indra Persaud, his five grandchildren, William, Max, Jiu Bei, Miranda and Madison; and niece, Renee. A 1955 graduate of Shady Spring High School, Beaver, WV, he went on to study at Yale University Institute of Far Eastern Languages, University of Maryland, University of California, Berkeley, and East Tennessee State College. He was a 1967 graduate of the University of Tennessee Knoxville, BS Communications. Professionally, he was the quintessential newspaperman. He began his career as a reporter, photographer, and Sunday editor at the Kingsport Times. Soon after, he joined the copy desk at the Knoxville Journal, where he eventually became Editor and Publisher. He spent his last 20 work years as the Executive Director of West Virginia Press Association and WVPA Foundation, and manager, West Virginia Press Services. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving in Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. As well, he was a commercial pilot, past president Optimist Club of Knoxville, and a past member, Tennessee Appellate Court Nominating Commission.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Oak Ridge. TN, 11:00 AM Saturday, March 25, 2017. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to the charity of your choice in his name.