07/11/2024
A prominent Letcher County businessman William Donald "Don" Childers has passed away June 29 at his home.
Don was the founder of Childers Oil, and also the Double Kwik chain of east Kentucky convenience stores based in Whitesburg.
A celebration of life and his 92 years was held July 8 at the First Baptist Church in Whitesburg.
His daughter, Melissa "Missy" Matthews serves as director of the Letcher County Tourism Commission.
Don was born on November 7, 1931 in Aunt Cordy's house in Pikeville with the involvement of Dr. Kaminski.
His parents Johnie "Bear" Childers and Ruby "Bear" Childers lived in Hellier and Don's grandfather, William "Doc" Bartley, drove the couple to Pikeville to be close to the doctor for the birth.
Don's early life was spent in a shotgun house in Hellier down the road from Johnie Bear's barber shop, which also included a pool room and restaurant.
Ruby ran the small restaurant and sold hamburgers for a dime and Pepsi for a nickel.
While attending Hellier High School, Don was a member of the Hellier High School basketball team and a proud "Hellcat".
Don spoke frequently of his days as a teenager hauling coal for his dad in the 1940's. His dad eventually let him have the old KB-6 International truck but he had to learn to fix transmission and differential problems and changing the oil. This became Don's first business venture. At the end of high school when it came time for college, the coal truck was traded for a car.
A 1950 baby blue Studebaker transported Don to Pikeville College for two years while he earned an Associate Degree and then on to the University of Kentucky where he graduated in 1954 with a degree in Business and Commerce.
Following college, Don was inducted into the US Army taking him from basic training at Ft. Knox to later being stationed in West Germany. He reached the rank of corporal, Specialist 3 in the 65* Field Artillery Battalion, an administration specialist in the area of finance.
Once back home, Don had a brief stint teaching and coaching at his alma mater, Hellier High School, before interviewing for a job with Gulf Oil Corporation in Toledo, Ohio.
In 1956, Gulf Oil hired Don and gave him the title of sales representative in Whitesburg.
As a Gulf sales rep, his job consisted of selling to what the industry refers to as service station dealers. He sold tires, batteries, antifreeze and gas as well as trained the dealer on Gulf standards and image. Clean bathrooms, cleaning parking lots, good customer service and good Gulf gasoline were at the top of the list. The dealers would earn a commission, but all of the locations were owned by Gulf Oil Corporation.
His sales job with Gulf totaled 10 years of service and found him in three different regions with his young family in tow. The moves took them from Whitesburg to Corbin and on to Knoxville, Tennessee. The Knoxville experience proved successful and provided a strong professional resume for his next move.
His next promotion with Gulf would require him to move his family to Atlanta, Georgia. Before making the move to Atlanta, Don was given one final assignment. Gulf needed help finding a buyer for the Whitesburg distributorship that the company no longer wished to own. Since Don knew the area well, they asked him to help find a buyer.
After much prayer and discussion with Peggy, a decision was made. On July 2, 1966, Don made Gulf an offer for the Whitesburg based business and gave them his resignation. He became an independent businessman with the start of Childers Oil Company. This would bring him back to his beloved eastern Kentucky mountains.
Over the next 50 years with Don's vision, passion and grit and Peggy working by his side, the family business has grown to 40 plus convenience stores, a hometown restaurant, a tire store and numerous other business ventures.
Throughout his life, Don valued the fact he ended up in a position to help others. He constantly made himself available to people from all walks of life as they endeavored to improve their quality of life or learn a new skill.
It was never just about the job. Investing in people became Don’s passion. He was especially interested in sharing his testimony of faith with his work family and often invited them to Sunday School or church. He felt these words of encouragement or personal interest in their lives was an investment in their future and a personal relationship with Jesus. He remembered who was sick, their children's names, their papaw’s surgery or a health concern of a wife. His genuine love was shining through, and it was more important to others than Don realized. Don stood steadfastly on his convictions. God, family, work, community in his daily path.
A natural born storyteller and historian, he would pride himself in remembering names, places and events in detail.
As a servant leader and willing participant, Don became a member of the Pikeville College Board of Directors and Kentucky Petroleum Board as well as Letcher County Planning Commission and the Letcher County Airport Board, serving both for over 18 years. As a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Whitesburg for over 40 years, he made a quiet commitment to addressing any needs or repairs around the church property be it large or small.
Don was not a tool of mediocrity. If things needed to be done, he would make sure to do them right whether volunteering his time, talents and materials or development of a new project. He always had a list, actually several lists. His motto often reflected his goal of pray, prepare and have a plan. If you do the 90 percent, God will always come through with the 10 percent. The difference was Don also followed up personally on projects, contacts or challenges that were his or those of an employee, including the occasional 'marriage counseling'.
Don truly enjoyed investing in someone's growth, getting back to work or seeking a better quality of life.
If you knew Don at all, then you probably have your favorite Don quote – “All new brooms sweep clean”, “You can only expect what you inspect”, “Nothing very very bad or very very good lasts for very very long”, “You are and literally become what you think about”, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude”, “Always expect the best but prepare for the worst”, “Never never assume”, “If money or power will change a man, then it won’t take much”, and “Always follow up”. This list is endless and could go on and on.
As a loving husband, father and grandfather, Don cared deeply for his family and the time he devoted to them. He was preceded in death by his son, William Douglas Childers. He is survived
by his wife and soulmate, Peggy Jo of 71 years, two daughters, Donna Jo Childers of Nicholasville, Ina Michelle (Missy) Matthews and husband Charles Matthews Jr, their children Eli Matthews and Isaac Matthews also of Whitesburg. Granddaughter Carlie Childers Cornett and grandson Jordan Childers and great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate charitable gifts be made to the First Baptist Church of Whitesburg or our double kwik Fueling the Future Foundation providing scholarships in the counties we serve.
