Dennis C. Childres, 74

MAGNOLIA - Dennis C. Childres, of Magnolia, passed away Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. He was 74.

Dennis was born April 2, 1933, in Smithfield, N.C.

He served his country proudly in the U.S. Air Force as a master sergeant from July 1951 to October 1972 during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He received an Air Medal for 35 missions to Vietnam.

After his retirement, Dennis loved going to flea markets and yard sales.

He also enjoyed working on watches, clocks and cars.

Dennis was a member of the American Legion.

He was honored at the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover on a plaque with his flight crew of the C-133.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Braxton Lee Childres; a granddaughter, Sarah; and a grandson, Frank Kirk.

He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Lila M. Childres; children, Rodney Lee Kirk and his wife Mary of Rapid City, S.D., Cynthia Goertz and her husband Doug of Dover, Charisse Stanley of Dover and Kelli Walton and her husband Alan of Vero Beach, Fla.; sisters, Avon Williams of Gastonia, N.C., and Virginia "Tommie" Nix of Deland, Fla.; 15 grandsons; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden-Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, where friends may view one hour before services.

Burial with full military honors will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 100 Patriots Way, Millsboro.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the American Heart Association, 1151 Walker Road, Suite 202, Dover, DE 19904; or Capitol Baptist Church, 401 Kesselring Ave., Dover, DE 19904.

Letters of condolences may be sent via www.pippinfuneralhome.com.