Donald Lee Childers

Don Childers passed from this life on July 20, 2024, after a hard but brave battle with Parkinson’s. He was born on May 7, 1946, in Bartlesville, OK, to Bill and Mary Childers. He lived with his parents, brother Bobby, and sister Lori in multiple states before settling down in Florida when Don was 10 years old. It was in Jacksonville that he would spend the rest of his life. He grew up on the Southside in Little League baseball and the Boy Scouts and graduated from Englewood High School in 1964, where he built lifelong friendships with his Rams classmates. Many remained his close circle until the day he died. After high school, he spent time in the U.S. National Guard and then embarked on a 40-year career with Seaboard Coastline Railroad. Seaboard became CSX during his tenure, and he retired from a very noteworthy career leading the CSX government traffic organization in 2006. One of the highlights of his time there was caring for US military railway movements during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm and getting “coined” by General David Petraeus.

From early childhood, Don was an avid sportsman, a “leftie” pitcher on the baseball mound, and he lettered in football at Englewood High School. He played city industrial and church league softball, doubles tennis, and league bowling well into his 40s, but he found a great passion for golf in his retirement. As in everything else, he never did this solo. He played every Thursday with his closest pals and greatly enjoyed planning, playing in, and once winning their annual golf tournament—where a loud plaid jacket, crazy hats, a coveted trophy, and a year’s worth of bragging rights were always on the line. When he wasn’t playing sports, he was coaching his daughter and later his grandkids from the sidelines. He loved being in the stands for every game, performance, or recital.

If you knew Don Childers, you knew this for certain: He loved his family, his friends, and his Florida Gators (although not always in that order, especially on game days). He was a lifelong season ticket holder, member of the Gator Club of Jacksonville, and fervent fan of the Gator football team, faithfully attending both home and away games over many years with his closest buddies. But he would watch any sport the Gators were playing, his DVR always set to record Gator sports year-round. He knew more details about Florida players, recruits and stats than anyone around, and in his retirement, one of his favorite pastimes was creating a Gator sports update email that he regularly distributed to a large group of friends, colleagues, and family members.

Don was a ready conversationalist, with a big smile and a twinkle in his eyes, who never knew a stranger, made friends everywhere he went, and thrived on his connections to people in his personal and professional worlds. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, Pop Pop, and friend. He was devoted to his wife Bonny and to his family, and he was a constant presence in the lives of his grandchildren. He leaves behind a wealth of people who loved, respected, and will miss him greatly. Don faithfully attended church all his life, in recent years at The Church of Eleven22, and carried his faith quietly and personally.

Don was preceded in death by both of his parents, Billie Lee Childers and Mary (Marge) Childers as well as his sister Lori Childers Miller and grandson Sean O’Hare. He is survived by his wife Bonny Turner Childers; daughter Lea Childers Sims (Grady); brother Robert Childers (Judy); stepson David O’Hare (Kristy); stepdaughter Janice Batsch (Scott); and his 11 grandchildren Peyton Minkley, Madison Minkley, Jordyn O’Hare, Elina O’Hare, Caitlyn O’Hare, Colby Batsch, Dylan Batsch, Aiden Sims, Abby Batsch, Josiah O’Hare, and Blake Batsch. Don was also blessed to welcome his first great-grandchild Penny Lane Minkley, born in January of this year.

There will be a celebration of life event on Saturday, August 10 at 1:00 p.m. at the main campus of The Church of Eleven22 (14286 Beach Blvd), followed by a light reception at the church. All are welcome.

Additional announcements and/or updates will be posted to Don’s Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at https://t2t.org/