Kenneth Allen Childers

Kenneth Allen Childers, beloved husband, father and grandfather, shed his cancer-stricken body and went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 14, 2017 Ken was born January 21, 1953 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Harold Childers and Doris Armstrong. He spent his earliest years in Wichita, Kansas then moved to Garden City, Kansas at the age of 14. He was selected as 1971 Outstanding Athlete his senior year at Garden City High School where he played football, participated on the track team as a pole-vaulter and was a member of the state championship wrestling team. He earned a wrestling scholarship to Garden City Community College. He married Pam Holmes in 1974, and then in 1977, the couple bought a cattle ranch and moved to McDonald County, Missouri. Soon after that, they started a family and Ken gave his life to the Lord. Ken took up distance running in his late twenties, entering many local races ranging from 5k's to marathons and even a mini-triathlon. He ran over 35,000 miles throughout his running career. His love for sports and competition were channeled back into the community where he impacted many young athletes as the President of the Bentonville Little League Association in 1987-88. He coached numerous youth baseball and softball teams over the years. In addition to his love for athletics, Ken's true passion was photography and hiking in the wilderness throughout western Arkansas and Oklahoma in search of diamondback rattlesnakes, which he photographed for his website, www.rattlesnakeman. com. He worked as a property claims adjuster for Travelers Insurance Company in Northwest Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his father and a brother, Stuart Childers. Ken is survived by his wife, Pam; son, Michael and wife, Courtney of Little Rock, and their children, Marin, Whit and Libby, son, Matt and wife, Angie of Bentonville, and their children, Landon, Leyton and Linley; a daughter, Sarah Phipps and husband, Aaron of Centerton, and their children, Parker and Peyton; his mother and step-father, Doris and Ray Cornelson of Garden City, Kansa; a brother, Doug Cornelson and wife, Shari of Mundon, Kansas; two sisters, Cyndi Proffitt and husband, Ron of Garden City, Kansas and Ramona Cornelson of Wichita, Kansas; many nieces, nephews and a multitude of friends. Visitation will be held from 3-5 p.m., Sunday, September 17, 2017, at Stockdale-Moody Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, September 18, 2017 at New Hope Assembly of God Church with Pastor James Longmate officiating. Burial will follow at Bentonville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the New Hope Assembly of God Building Fund, 2626 W. New Hope Rd., Rogers, Ark. 72758. Arrangements have been entrusted to Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services in Rogers. Memories may be shared at stockdalefuneral.com.