James “Virgil” Childers
Wednesday, August 12, 2020 12:00 Noon
James “Virgil” Childers age 80, of Somerset, Kentucky passed from this life Saturday, August 8, 2020 at UK Hospital in Lexington.
Virgil was born December 6, 1939 in Somerset, Kentucky to the late Sidney “Ray” Childers and Maudie Lee Girdler.
He grew up in the Ringgold Community of Pulaski County, he married Chestena Mae Foster in Ringgold, GA on November 15, 1958. Virgil attended Ringgold Methodist Church and loved performing his music at the yearly Old Fashion Day and Christmas program. He obtained a Certificate from University of Kentucky in Managing the Independent Business, Certificate of Achievement in Business from Vocational and Technical School, Certificate from National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Certificate from Dale Carnegie Sales Course. He was a KY Colonel, a member of Masonic Lodge Mt. Gilead #255, Oleika Shriners, Scottish Rite, Backwoods Sportsman Club, and worked for Ready Mix Concrete in Somerset, KY for over 30 years as a truck driver and dispatcher.
Virgil loved Bluegrass Music, he played the guitar and mandolin and enjoyed singing. He played Sunday evenings with Polston Family at Somerset Nursing & Rehab Clinic. He enjoyed the music sessions at Pisgah School house on Tuesday evenings with his brother-in-law, Delvin and friends. He truly loved family and spending time together. He was an avid UK Basketball fan, loved going to Nascar races and was an Earnhardt fan. He enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, traveling, dogtrials with his grandson, Brian, going on adventure day trips with his precious great grands that called him “Poppy” and watching them play in the yard. He also enjoyed working the Election Poll. He loved his grandsons living next to him, so he could boss and tell them what to do as he sat on the patio with his coffee and kept a loving eye on everyone.
Virgil was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney “Ray” and Maudie Childers, brothers, Albert, Lenoard, Eugene (Mary), Louie, Finis Lee and Luther Coy Childers, sisters, Thelma Faye and Lucille Childers, Marie Girdler(Ed), Laura Hargis(Bob), mother and father-in-law, Dewey and Dorothy Foster.
He is survived by his wife, Chestena Childers, daughter, Janie (BJ) Strunk of Somerset, two grandsons, Barry (Sara) Strunk, Brian (Alisha) Strunk all of Somerset, three great-grandsons, Gunner, Miles, Mason Strunk, one great-granddaughter, Lila Strunk of Somerset, one brother, Lonzie (Priscilla) Childers of Somerset, one sister, Elizabeth (Robert) Christian of Knoxville, TN, sister-in-law, Mick Childers of Somerset, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends to mourn his passing.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at 6:00 P.M. in the Chapel of the Southern Oaks Funeral Home.
Funeral service will be held Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 12:00 Noon with Bro. Ben Mitchell officiating, burial will follow in Lakeside Memorial Gardens.
Southern Oaks Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements for James “Virgil” Childers.