Lorin Childers, 86

Former Bainbridge Island resident Lorin Dow Childers died Aug. 9, 2004 in Lacey. He was 86.

He was born in Northern Lewis County on July 26, 1918 into a family of four boys and one girl.

Childers attended elementary school and high school in Morton during the Great Depression.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps when he was 21 and later into the U.S. Air Force. He attended officer’s candidate training school. During World War II, he took heavy bomber aircraft from the factory to the war zone. He retired from the Air Force after 23 years, achieving the rank of major.

In 1967, he and his wife Fay became the first foster parents for the Bainbridge Island Group home for teenage girls. He was also a real estate salesman on the island.

The family later purchased a farm in Hansville and he continued to sell real estate at Shamrock Realty in Kingston. He and his wife retired to Panorama City in Lacey in 1981.

Childers is survived by his son Gary (Ann Marie) Childers of Kona, Hawaii; daughter Gwen (Steve) Springer of Lacey; brother Lee Childers of Panorama City; sister Shirley Gay George of Mossyrock; five grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Fay.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 15 in the Quinault Chapel, Fourth Floor, 1835 Circle Lane, Panorama City.