William "Bill" Howard Childers

William "Bill" Howard Childers, Jr., 70, of Morganton went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, May 4, 2013. Born in Burke County on February 19, 1943, he was the son of the late William Howard Childers and Teresa Mary Moore Childers. Bill was an active and dedicated member of Harvest Praise Church. He retired in 1994 from the Western Youth Institution and was an avid NASCAR fan. His greatest love was his devoted wife and his family.Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 48 years, Wanda Huntley Childers of the home; daughters, Kathy Grady and late husband, Bob, Kima Bowman and her husband, Phillip, Karen Campbell and her husband, Gene, Crystal Pritchard and her husband, Jesse, and Cherie Huffman and her husband, Brian; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Benny Childers and his wife, Barbara; and a sister, Mary "Punk" Hicks and her husband, Frank.The funeral will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at Harvest Praise Church with the Rev. Barry Camp officiating. Entombment will follow in Burke Memorial Park Mausoleum. The family will receive friends at the church from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. At other times the family will be at the home of Cherie Huffman in Valdese.Memorial contributions may be made to Harvest Praise Church, P.O. Box 3116, Morganton, NC 28680.Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.