Robert L. Childs

CENTERVILLE —

Robert Lawrence Childs, 79, of Centerville, left on his final adventure Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007.

Born in Orange, N.J., on June 28, 1928, Bob was the son of Gertrude (Daly) Childs and John Wilton Childs of Centerville. Upon the death of his father at the age of 14, Bob left the 10th grade to begin working on the Stackhouse farm to help support his family, starting at 4 a.m. daily for $10 a week. Following several jobs, including ice cutter and auto-body work and mechanic, Bob was finally able to enlist in the Navy in April of 1946, combining his patriotism with a passion for the sea.

Honorably discharged on July 30, 1948, as an EM3, Bob then worked in succession for Hyannis Radiator, as a tank mechanic at Camp Edwards, and as the head fleet mechanic at White Brothers milk company, while maintaining his status in the Naval Reserves.

Always the entrepreneur, Bob began the 1960s by starting Childs Refuse Removal, Childs Appliance Delivery and Childs Septic Service. These enterprises culminated in 1963 with the formation of Childs Moving and Storage in Hyannis that Bob owned and operated for 30 years. He then worked for the Town of Barnstable as a drawbridge operator in Osterville and as an assistant harbormaster at Bismore Park.

Besides the sea, Bob also had passion for music, cooking, and for flying, buying and restoring his first airplane at the age of 16. He owned and enjoyed several vessels out of Hyannis harbor, and his love for and knowledge of the waters around Cape Cod led to years of dedicated service to the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He served as vice captain for Division 11 of the Auxiliary, as well branch chief for National Staff for Marine Safety. As a vessel safety inspector, his dedicated service earned Bob many awards, culminating with the first Bob Childs USCG T/V Safety Award in 2003.

Bob served more than 20 years on the Town of Barnstable Board of Health, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus, presiding as grand knight in 1961.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Pauline (Olson); three daughters, Susan Elworthy of Craigville, Nancy Childs of Assonet, and Diane Drinkwater of Centerville; three sons, Brian Childs of Marstons Mills, Edward Childs of Norton, and Robert Childs Jr. of Olathe, Kan.; four brothers, Jack Childs of Portsmouth, R.I., Felix Childs of Gualala, Calif., Peter Childs of West Barnstable, and Bruce Childs of Albuquerque, N.M.; seven grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Victory Church, 230 S. Main St., Centerville, on Friday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m. Visiting hours will be on Thursday, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the John-Lawrence Funeral Home, 3778 Falmouth Road (Route 28), Marstons Mills. Interment will be in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, at 1:15 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to the IDDI Treehouse Fund, c/o IDDI, P.O. Box 372, Assonet, MA 02702.

For more information, go to www.johnlawrencefuneralhome.com.