James "Virgil" Childers, 80 years of age, of Somerset, Kentucky, departed this life on Saturday, August 8th, 2020 at the University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington.

Virgil was born in Somerset, Kentucky on December 6th, 1939, son of the late Raymond Sidney "Ray" Childers and Maudie Lee Girdler Childers. He grew up in the Ringgold community of Pulaski County, he married Chestena Mae Forster in Ringgold, Georgia on November 15th, 1958. Virgil attended Ringgold Methodist Church and loved performing his music at the yearly Old Fashion Day and Christmas program. He obtained a Certificate from University of Kentucky in Managing the Independent Business, Certificate of Achievement in Business from Vocational and Technical School, Certificate from National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Certificate from Dale Carnegie Sales Course. He was a Kentucky Colonel, a member of Masonic Lodge Mount Gilead #255, Oleika Shriners, Scottish Rite, Backwoods Sportsman Club, and worked for Ready Mix Concrete in Somerset, Kentucky for over 30 years as a truck driver and dispatcher.

Virgil loved Bluegrass Music, he played the guitar and mandolin and enjoyed singing. He played Sunday evenings with Polston Family at Somerset Nursing & Rehab Clinic. He enjoyed the music sessions at Pisgah School house on Tuesday evenings with his brother-in-law, Delvin and friends. He truly loved family and spending time together. He was an avid University of Kentucky Basketball fan, loved going to Nascar races, and was an Earnhardt fan. He enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, traveling, dogtrials with his grandson, Brian, going on adventure day trips with his precious great grandchildren that called him "Poppy" and watching them play in the yard. He also enjoyed working the Election Poll. He loved his grandsons living next to him, so he could boss and tell them what to do as he sat on the patio with his coffee and kept a loving eye on everyone.

Virgil was survived by his loving wife, Chestena Childers; one daughter, Janie (B.J.) Strunk of Somerset, Kentucky; two grandsons, Barry (Sara) Strunk, Brian (Alisha) Strunk all of Somerset, three great-grandsons, Gunner, Miles, Mason Strunk, one great-granddaughter, Lila Strunk of Somerset, one brother, Lonzie (Priscilla) Childers of Somerset, one sister, Elizabeth (Robert) Christian of Knoxville, TN, sister-in-law, Mick Childers of Somerset, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends to mourn his passing.

Virgil was preceded in death by his parents, Ray Childers, who departed this life on May 21st, 1976 and Maudie Childers, who departed this life on June 1st, 2002; six brothers, Albert Childers, Lenoard Childers, Eugene (and Mary) Childers, Louie Childers, Finis Lee Childers, and Luther Coy Childers, four sisters, Thelma Faye Childers, Lucille Childers, Marie (and Ed) Girdler, and Laura (Bob) Hargis, and his mother and father-in-law, Dewey and Drothy Foster.

Visitations were held after 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11th, 2020 at the Southern Oaks Funeral Home in Somerset, Kentucky.

Funeral services were held at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, August 12th, 2020 in the Chapel of the Southern Oaks Funeral Home with Bro. Ben Mitchell officiating,

Burial followed in the Lakeside Memorial Gardens in Pulaski County, Kentucky.

THIS IS A TRIBUTE IN MEMORY OF VIRGIL,

What makes a man a Mason, O brother of mine?
It isn't the due guard, nor is it the sign,
It isn't the jewel which hangs on your breast
It isn't the apron in which you are dressed

It isn't the step, nor the token, nor the grip,
Nor lectures that fluently flow from the lip,
Nor yet the possession of that mystic word
On five points of fellowship duly conferred.

Though these are essential, desirable, fine,
They don't make a Mason, O brother of mine.
That you to your sworn obligation are true
that my brother, makes a Mason of you.

Obituary information curtesy of the family. Find A Grave memorial created by Cadmus ID # 46987840.