Fred J. Childs

Atkinson, NH:  Fred J. Childs, Jr., 87, a longtime resident of Atkinson and former Selectman, died November 22, 2016 at Parkland Medical Center in Derry.

Born, raised and educated in Lawrence, son of the late Fred and Blanche (Boucher) Childs, he graduated from Lawrence High School with the Class of 1947.  A veteran of the Korean Conflict, Mr. Childs served as a Private First Class in the U.S. Army from 1951 until his honorable discharge in 1953.

A self-employed businessman, he was a partner in the ownership and operation of Childs Exxon Station in Salem NH for many years and eventually developed Childs Plaza. He had previously worked as a Lawrence Police officer from 1956 until 1963.

Mr. Childs served the Town of Atkinson in several capacities including a fourteen year term as Selectman from 1996 until 2010 and as the Supervisor of Maintenance for Buildings and Grounds from 1990 until 2007. He had also served as a former member of the Planning Board and Building Needs Committee.
A member of the Atkinson Congregational Church and the U.S. Trotting Association, Mr. Childs owned and raced harness horses around New England and the Eastern United States for several years.

Predeceased by his wife Dale (Deyermond) Childs in 2011, he will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by two sons, Fred D. Childs and his longtime companion Anne Harper of Beverly, MA, and Shane G. Childs and his wife Michele of Atkinson, four daughters, Sue C. Gatzimos and her husband Stratton of Merrimack, Carol A. Tobey of Greenland, Paula J. Hovey of Danvers, and Dawn K. Amiss and her longtime companion, Shaun Callahan of Cordova MD, a brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Eleanor Childs of Windham, nine grandchildren, Kerri, Ryan, Shawn, Courtney, Ashley, Danielle, Zachary, Makenna and Emerson, and four great grandchildren, Alexa, Brianna, Bentley and Autumn, and several nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his grand-daughter, Brittany Dawn Childs in 1997.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Mr. Childs Life Celebration to be held on Monday, November 28, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow. His funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at 10a.m. in the Atkinson Congregational Church, Main St., Atkinson, followed by burial with Military Honors in the Atkinson Cemetery. Donations in his name may be made to the Brittany Dawn Childs Scholarship Fund, c/o Hampstead Police Department, P.O.Box 78, Hampstead, NH. To send a message of condolence to the family or to find directions to our home, please visit www.brooksidechapelfh.com.