Russell Lee Childress Jr.

Russell Lee Childress, Jr., age 78, of Conowingo, MD, passed away on March 11, 2021. He was born in Fort Benning, GA on January 14, 1943 to the late Russell L. Childress, Sr. and Marybel (Flora) Childress.

Mr. Russell L. Childress, Jr. was born at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon completion of the Reserve Officers Training Corps at the University of Delaware in June 1964, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve and awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Education Administration from American University. His military education includes completion of Infantry Officer Basic Course, Airborne Jump School, the Ordnance Officer Advanced Course, the Mechanical Maintenance Officer Course, Armament Maintenance Officer Course, the Chemical Staff Officer Course, and the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

Mr. Childress has held a variety of key assignments, both as an officer in the USAR and as a Department of the Army civilian employee, culminating in his civilian assignment as the Deputy Assistant Commandant, United States Army Ordnance Center and School. In 1992, he retired from the USAR as an Ordnance Corps Colonel and Commandant of the 2076th USARF School in Wilmington, Delaware. Other key USAR assignments held included duty as Command and General Staff College Instructor, Assistant Director of officers’ courses for the 2071st USARF School in Owings Mills, Maryland, and as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee USAR Colonel serving as Maintenance Management Officer, Headquarters, United States Army Materiel Command, Alexandria, Virginia.

Mr. Childress served in a variety of important career building assignments in his duel career as a USAR officer and as a civil service employee. He was a Platoon Leader in the 197th Infantry Brigade; an Instructor, Close Combat, Basic Rifle Marksman, and Infiltration Course, Basic Training, Fort Benning, Georgia; a Maintenance Officer 310th Logistical Command Aide de Camp, Deputy CG, 310th Theater Army Area Command, respectively, in Washington, DC; USAR Training Development Advisor to the United States Army Ordnance School, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; Education Specialist, Directorate of Training and Doctrine; Resource Requirements Specialist, Directorate of Combat Developments, Deputy Director and Director of Directorate of Evaluation and Standardization; Technical Training Director, Director of Instruction, Deputy Assistant Commandant and Assistant Commandant, all with the United States Army Ordnance Center and School, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

Mr. Childress’ awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the Delaware Distinguish Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserved Medal, and the Parachutist Badge. As a civil service employee, he received the Meritorious Civil Service Award, the Superior Service Civilian Award, two Commander’s Awards for Civilian Service, the Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe Award, the Order of Ezekiel Cheever Award, and the induction into Ordnance Society of the Crimson Pen.

Russell was the Deputy Assistant Commandant of the U.S. Army Ordnance Center and School of Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, when he retired in 2001, with thirty years of Civilian Service. He took great joy in harness race horsing, as well as, owning and training his own standardbred horses. Russell enjoyed his beagle dogs and traveling around the world. One of his greatest joys in life, was watching his grandsons play sports. Russell will be dearly missed.

Russell is survived by his wife, Joan Childress of Conowingo, MD; daughters: Kathy Burns and her husband, Ross, Sr., of Conowingo, MD and Beth Ehrhart and her husband, Mike of Conowingo, MD; grandchildren: Ross Burns, Jr., Joshua Burns, Anna Ehrhart, Elijah Ehrhart, Benjamin Ehrhart, Samuel Ehrhart; brother, Stephen Childress and his wife, Dhana of Oakton, VA; sister, Nancy Childress of Springfield, VA.

Services will be held privately at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made payable “Samaritan’s Purse” and send in care of R.T. Foard Funeral Home, P.O. Box 248, Rising Sun, MD 21911. To send online condolences please visit, www.rtfoard.com.