Lloyd George Childers Jr.

Born on April 18, 1939, in Bakersfield, Lloyd spent his entire life in the community he proudly called home. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, businessman, and friend whose strong work ethic, unwavering dedication to his family, and unforgettable sense of humor left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.

Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd “Doc” Childers and Eileen Childers; his sisters, Beverly Nall and Barbara Childers; his brothers, Phillip and Dennis Childers and his step-daughter Michelle Jones.

He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years Ellen Childers; his sisters, Debbie Layton (husband Don), Sharon Judd (husband Jim), and Marsha Landess (husband Cal); his children, Rex Childers (wife Traci), Donny Childers (wife Cynthia), Penny Skolnick (husband Junior), step-children Andrea Torphy (husband Aaron), and Aaron Flores. He was a proud grandfather to Brandi, Kacey, Jeny, Terian, Tristian, Alexandra, Nicholas, Michael, Michelle, Mercury, Azul, Violet, Daisy, Isabella, and Atien. He was also blessed with sixteen great-grandchildren, along with many cherished nieces, nephews, extended family members, and lifelong friends.

Lloyd built an admirable career that began at Smith’s Bakery, where he worked as a baker before his career in the oil industry starting out at Tidewater, then Getty and Texaco, where he enjoyed a long and successful career that continued through Chevron until his retirement. Never one to stop learning or working, he also earned both his pilot’s license and his real estate license.

An entrepreneur at heart, Lloyd invested in rental properties and loved remodeling homes before selling them. His entrepreneurial spirit continued as he opened Brandy’s Bar, which was operated by his daughter Penny and her sister Michelle, and later added a Mexican restaurant to the business. Together with his sons, Rex and Donny, he owned and operated Freeway Liquor Store in Bakersfield as well as a liquor store in Lamont. Lloyd later expanded Freeway Liquor by opening its popular kitchen.

Outside of work, Lloyd embraced life to the fullest. He loved watersports from his start on the East High dive team, waterskiing, spending weekends on the water aboard his boats at Channel Islands Harbor and attending boat races at Lake Ming. Lloyd never missed a boat race whether he was cheering from the shoreline at Lake Ming, traveling across the country to race events, or working as part of the race crew with his son Rex, his grandson Nicholas, and many close friends, Lloyd found great joy in the racing community and the lifelong friendships it brought. He and Ellen treasured traveling together, often alongside his siblings, creating countless memories through the years.

Above all else, Lloyd’s greatest pride was his family. He celebrated every accomplishment, treasured every gathering, and never missed an opportunity to make those around him laugh. He will be remembered for his generous heart, remarkable work ethic, entrepreneurial spirit, and the love he shared with those fortunate enough to know him.

Funeral services will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, California 93306, on Thursday, July 30, 2026, visitation 9:00 a.m. and graveside at 10:00 a.m. A Celebration of Lloyd’s Life will immediately follow the service at Luigi’s Restaurant.

Lloyd’s legacy lives on through the family he loved so deeply and the countless lives he touched. He will be profoundly missed and forever remembered.