Donald Gene Childress

Born May 21, 1940 to Marvin Albert and Inell Wooley Childress in Galveston, grew up in Bacliff, attended and graduated from Dickinson High School. Donald passed from this life on Sunday, March 23, 2025 in Webster, Tx, with his family by his side.

Donald married the love of his life Dorothy Anderson Childress on December 3, 1966, and together were blessed with and raised two loving sons, Brian Keith and Chad Eric, both of whom made their father an extremely proud “Aggie Dad’.

Donald chose the pipefitting and welding career path at an early age, became a member of Pipefitter Local Union #211 in 1962 and worked in the trade for 55 years in various chemical industries’ labor and supervision positions until his retirement from Sterling Chemicals in 2000. Over the years, he shared his high standard and abundant knowledge of the trade with his two sons and multitudes of friends and strangers, while always offering a helping hand. After retirement, he worked in a consulting capacity for his son Chad’s CBar Contractors, during which time he took great pride in teaching many younger generation employees his remarkable welding and job safety skills, a true inspiration to all. He will be remembered by many as ending conversations with “If you need anything, let me know” and he lived by his word.

Donald had the natural gift of caring for animals. He raised quarter horses as a hobby and soon became an avid farm and cattle rancher for his entire Life. He was a genuine Cowboy that enjoyed time spent with his many cowboy friends, sharing his wealth of knowledge and his personal experiences with farm animals, equipment and pasture management.

Donald volunteered as a member of the Galveston County Youth Rodeo, charter lifetime member of the Galveston County Ranchers Association, lifetime member of the Galveston County Fair and Rodeo, current member of the Texas A&M Galveston County Extension Service Beef and Forage Committee, lifelong member of Texas Southwest Cattleman’s Association, and proudly served as a 10 year 4H club manager and other youth supporting groups over his lifetime. For over 20 years, Donald proudly organized an annual reunion picnic for the Monsanto Sterling Pipefitter retirees.

Donald was lovingly called PawPaw by his five grandchildren, Emma, Zane, Wyatt, Ryan and Ivy, and the highlight of his life after retirement has been planning and taking his grandchildren on an annual summer vacation they all called “Camp PawPaw.” It was his special gift and cherished time spent with his grandchildren, whom he loved with all his heart and soul.

Donald is preceded in death by his parents, brother Albert and sister-in-law Joyce, mother-in-law Florence Anderson and father-in-law John Oscar Anderson, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ray and Mary Pitts, and brothers-in-law John Anderson and John Smith.

Donald is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Dorothy, his sons Brian Keith Childress (Tisha) of New Braunsfel, and Chad Eric Childress of Hitchcock, his five grandchildren, his sister Margie McCumber (Mike) of League City, sister-in-law Carol Smith of Dripping Springs, brother-in-law Mike Anderson (Sandy) of Alvin, sister-in-law Shirley Anderson of Norman, OK, sons Donald John and Steven Gene Childress, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Services for Donald will be held at Crowder Funeral Home in Dickinson with visitation on Monday, March 31 from 5:00pm to 7:00 pm and vigil to follow with Deacon Alvin Lovelady officiating. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday April 1, 2025 at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Hitchcock, with Father Larry Wilson officiating, and burial will follow at Hayes’ Grace Memorial Park Cemetery in Hitchcock.

Pallbearers will be Chad Childress, Wyatt Childress, Emma Childress, Zane Childress, Corey Bowen, and Billy Thompson. Honorary pallbearers will be Leonard “Bubba” Bowers, Blackie Heileman, Clifford Moore , and Guilio Meucci.

The family wishes to extend sincere thanks and appreciation to Dr. Geetha Seeranagan whom he lovingly referred to as “My Doctor”, and to Gracie Rivera, his very special home caregiver, the staff at US Renal in Texas City, and to his Village Home Health care team Felicia, Amanda, Christie, and Don, for all their loving care over the past years.

Donald will be remembered and sadly missed by his wife of 58 years, his family and many friends, as well as his pet terrier, Sugar, and his Aussie, Sammy, that he loved and enjoyed so dearly.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Our Lady of Lourdes Friendship Club or Bereavement Committee will be appreciated.