COLUMBUS
Minnie Frances Childs, 89, of Columbus, formerly of North Vernon passed away on Sunday, March 18, 2018, at Silver Oaks Health Campus in Columbus.
Born January 7, 1929, in Seymour, Mrs. Childs was the daughter of Booker and Madge McCarnan Simpson.
She married Dudley Hein Childs on December 14, 1955, in Vernon. He preceded her in death on September 1, 1967.
Mrs. Childs was a 1947 graduate of North Vernon High School and worked as the receptionist for Home Federal in North Vernon, retiring in 2003, and had previously worked for the Stationers Mart in North Vernon.
She was a Past President of Kappa Delta Phi sorority in North Vernon, a member of the First United Methodist Church, where she was a former Trustee and a former Girl Scout leader.
Mrs. Childs was the Mother Advisor for the former Rainbow for Girls, North Vernon Assembly. Two of her daughters were Rainbow Girls, and Mrs. Childs traveled with the girls in their state-appointed positions, going as far as Pennsylvania when one held a Grand Representative to Pennsylvania appointment.
She was a 55-year member of North Vernon Chapter No. 183, Order of the Eastern Star, and served as Worthy Matron in 1975 and again in 1985. She was appointed Grand Page in 1985, District Deputy in 1989 and Grand Representative to Montana in Indiana in 2000-2002.
Mrs. Childs held many appointments in Eastern Star including several District Chairman appointments, Go to Church Sunday, Starlight, Ronald McDonald House supplies, and in 1987 she was the State Chairman for Worthy Grand Matrons special project,”Channels for the Stars,” which raised money to install a satellite dish on the hospital for the Masonic Home in Franklin.
She edited the 125-year history, anniversary edition of “The Growth and Glory.”
Mrs. Childs said she “couldn’t remember when she wasn’t appointed to serve on some committee.”
She enjoyed musicals, theater and spending time with family.
Survivors include her daughters, Eileen (John) Helm of North Vernon, Merna (Jeff) Whittington of Columbus, Eloise (Jerry Van) Carlisle of New Albany and Pamela (Bert) Carpenter of Somerset, Kentucky; sisters Mary (Jim) Ochs of Greenwood; grandchildren, Jonathan Helm of Zionsville, Jeremy (Ashley) Helm of Indianapolis, Amy Brooks of Fort Wayne, Jeff (Jennifer) Vincent of Edinburg, Spenser Carlisle and Devon Carlisle both of New Albany, Andrew (Tiffany) Whittington of Greensburg, Amanda Whittington of McCordsville, Heather (Bob) Hanson of Cape Coral, Florida and Brandon (Carrie) Helm of North Vernon; and 15 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brother, Frank Simpson, and infant sister, Shirley Simpson.
A funeral service for Mrs. Childs will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 23, 2018, at the Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Services in North Vernon. Family and Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday, March 22, 2018, from 4 until 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Friday. An Eastern Star Memorial service by members of North Vernon Chapter No. 183 O.E.S. will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Burial will be in the Vernon Cemetery.
Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Our Hospice of Jennings County or First United Methodist Church.
