Obituary of Gene Lamar Childers

Gene Lamar (Gene L) Childers, 77, husband of Brenda Cook Childers for 59 years, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 12, 2023, after a brief illness. Mr. Childers was born in Hickory Grove, SC, to the late Samuel Jefferson Childers and Ann Dale Phillips Childers and lived most of his life in Union, SC. He retired from the SC Highway Patrol after serving 25 years. He was a member of the SC Troopers Association, Masonic Lodge #75, the Hejaz Shrine Temple, Union Elks Lodge #1321 and was the past president and secretary of the Union County Shrine Club. Gene was an avid Gamecocks fan and loved to fish, but his greatest enjoyment was being a “Pappy.” He spent hours beguiling everyone with anecdotes of his time on the highway patrol, his fishing antics, and other stories of his life. Surviving in addition to his wife are two daughters, Kelly Shumaker (Shawn), and Kim Foster (Richie); three grandchildren, Cole Shumaker (Carlene). Cassidy Shumaker, and Hunter Foster Casey (Ethan); a brother Samuel “Smoke” Childers (Harriett) and a sister Gale Propst, in addition to many loving nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by five brothers, Clarence Childers, Tom Childers, Kenneth Thomas, Lawrence Thomas, Charles Thomas, and three sisters, Lillie Pickens, Inelle Bolin and Wilma Mitchell. A celebration of Gene L’s life will be at 3:00 PM Sunday, January 15, 2023, at Fountain Inn Trinity United Methodist Church, 403 S Weston St, Fountain Inn, SC. The family will receive friends 1:30-2:45pm Sunday at Trinity United Methodist Church. The family will be at the home of Shawn & Kelly, 235 Hunt Club Drive, Simpsonville, SC 29680. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 950 Faris Rd, Greenville SC 29605 or to FI Trinity UMC would be greatly appreciated.