Obituary: Robert B. (Bob) Childs, 89

Bob Childs (89) was born and raised in Cranston, Rhode Island, the third child of Robert and Ruby (Hussey) Childs. He was predeceased by his siblings, Al, Myron, Gene and Margie (McCarthy). 

When World War II broke out, he left Cranston East High School to enlist in the US Navy. He served in the South Pacific on the USS Belleau Wood including in the raids on Tarawa and Wake Island, and in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. After the war, he returned to Rhode Island where he met and married Evelyn Amelio, his wife of 63 years.  Together they raised five children of whom he was very proud and by whom he was very loved.  

Of the many things he gave his children, best of all was the gift of his time with many hours spent on family outings including sledding, playing pond hockey and baseball. For many summers, he pitched an enormous old army tent in a field on a Smithfield farm where he camped with his kids. He was especially loved by his late mother-in-law, Erminia Amelio, who shared his passion for cooking and taught him to cook Italian. 

He was happiest when surrounded by and cooking for his large extended family. He enjoyed boisterous card games and cookouts with his many friends. While Bob enjoyed watching the Red Sox, Bruins and the Patriots, he was his grandkids’ greatest fan enduring many sports events over the years. Bob was also a gifted handyman and spent countless hours helping to paint, maintain and build things for his children when they became homeowners. Most of all, Bob had a grand and giving heart – the people he has helped, cared for, and nursed, number more than can be named.

Bob passed away peacefully on July 3, 2013. In addition to his wife, Bob is survived by his children, Mary Ellen (Whiteman) of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Joan (Cyrul) of East Haddam, Connecticut, Bobby of Cranston, Diane (Comerford) of Providence, and Christine (Nolte) of Cranston; their spouses David, Jim, Lisa, David, and Pete; his grandchildren, Meghan (and Eric Sueltenfuss of Edmonds, Washington), Christopher Childs (and Veronica Montes of Miami Beach, Florida), Katie, Patrick and David Comerford, Colin and Nick Whiteman, Jenna Childs, Samantha and Daniel Nolte, and great-grandson Ethan Sueltenfuss. His newest great-granddaughter Eliana Childs, due any day, would surely have been showered with the love and protection he reserved for all the girls in his family.

Funeral from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME, 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Church, Oaklawn Avenue, Cranston.  Internment will be in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. VISITING HOURS Tuesday morning 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 791 Potters Avenue, Providence RI 02907.