Joe Lynn Childs

Joe Lynn Childs, 87, passed away Thursday, May 13, 2021. Joe was born in Douglas, Oklahoma on June 26, 1933, to Letha (Berneita) and Carl C. Childs and big brother Rex. His family left the red dirt of Oklahoma for the wheatfields of Kansas when his father went to work for Boeing. Joe then grew up in the tight knit community of Planeview, KS, where he met Patricia, the love of his life, in the 6th grade. Joe claimed that he marched behind her as she twirled her baton while he played the drums in the grade school band. Joe graduated from Planeview High School in 1950 and started college at Wichita University (WSU) the following fall while Pat finished her senior year. They were married December 27, 1952 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Wichita. After graduating college, the young couple moved to Salina, KS, to start a family while Joe worked as an accountant. Joe moved his family to Hutchinson in 1960 to work at a CPA firm and then for Hartman Manufacturing. He also taught adult education courses at Hutchinson Community College (Accounting I & II). Joe and Pat enjoyed an active parish life at both St.Theresa Catholic Church and then at Church of the Holy Cross. They were very involved in both parishes, active in Hutchinson Jaycees, and even ran a photo booth at the Hutchinson State Fair every September. In 1977, Joe’s involvement as a member of the Board of Directors of the Kansas Jaycees-Cerebral Palsy Foundation and United Cerebral Palsy of Kansas, Inc. led him to be recruited as General Manager and later President of a unique manufacturing company called Center Industries Corporation in Wichita. Joe served as past President of the Wichita Area Manufacturers Association and the Central Kansas Manufacturers Association;.he was a member of the Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce; a member of the Board of Directors of the Campus Credit Union at WSU; a charter member of the Board of Directors for the Reno Occupational Center, Inc.; a member of the Governor’s Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped; a member of the Kansas Newman College Board of Directors; a proud 4th Degree Knight of Columbus (Council #4118); an active parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parishes, a longtime member of Wichita Downtown Rotary Club; and the 1994 recipient of the Service Above Self Award from the Rotary Club. Joe never met a stranger and enjoyed connecting people from one organization to the next in order to advance one project or another. After retiring from Center Industries, Joe perhaps found his favorite career as a multi-talented part of the Administrative team at Kansas Newman College. He played a variety of roles at Newman over the years in Human Resources, as Security Director, as Athletic Director, as Special Assistant to the President, and in the Advancement Office. Joe found his true calling at Newman as he thoroughly enjoyed the college atmosphere and getting to know the students, staff, and coaches. During his tenure, he saw the college expand sports programs, change their name to Newman University, and update the campus with several new buildings from generous donations by benefactors that he helped connect to the ASC sisters’ vision for NU.Some of Joe’s favorite projects to work on were the annual Renaissance Faire and the Jet Open. He and Pat received the John Henry Newman Medal in 2004 for all the efforts they contributed to Newman University over the years. After yet one more retirement, Joe still couldn’t sit still and went back to his high school grocery days by working at Dillons as a beloved Flower Delivery Driver. He found joy in bringing surprise or comfort to others with the delivery of flowers to celebrate special occasions. He was even known to wander the Dillons store handing out roses to the ladies to avoid throwing out perfectly good flowers that had matured past their prime. Besides Joe’s work, he enjoyed play time as well. He spent as many days as he could on Rolling Hills Golf Course, and he and Pat loved travelling throughout their married life all over the world. Joe was always planning the next party and loved hosting them for colleagues or family. His greatest accomplishment was raising their five children and watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Berneita Childs. Surviving him are his wife, Patricia; children, Michael (Evonne) Childs, Lynda (Steven) Cope, Marcus (Linda) Childs, Martin (Melody) Childs, Lynette (Brent) Brittain; brother, Rex Childs; 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Parish Rosary will be Tuesday, May 18, at 7:00 pm; Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 19, both at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with Newman University Athletic Department, 3100 N. McCormick, Wichita, KS 67213. Downing & Lahey Mortuary West.