CHILDS, Matilda Caroline

Matilda Caroline Childs, 88, of Phoenix, died Sunday, January 4, 2004. She was born on July 14, 1915, in Mission Valley, Texas, and was the youngest of six children. Matilda grew up on a farm near Cuero, Texas, and was a bright young girl who was valedictorian of her high school class. She married and moved to Arizona in 1944, where she began working as a "Rosie the Riveter" during WWII at an airplane plant in the town of Goodyear. She was also a master seamstress, and through her talent she became acquainted with a wide array of wonderful friends from all walks of life. Matilda was known and respected for her sacrificial dedication to her family, her love and generosity towards friends, and compassion and kindness toward anyone who was in need. She was preceded in death by her husband, Beura, as well as infant twins, and a son Jimmy. She is survived by seven children and their spouses, Sally (Hector) Acedo; Susan (Gene) Porter; Mary (Tom) Asher; Ruby Childs, Charles (Maria) Childs;Kathy (Michael) Glick; and Joseph Childs, as well as 14 devoted grandchildren, 10 precious great-grandchildren, and 2 especially treated nieces, Grace Cain and June Poerner. Our blessed mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt lived her life with deep integrity, love, and devotion. She has now been joyously received into heaven. Funeral services Friday, January 9, 2004 at Heritage Funeral Chapel 6830 W. Thunderbird Rd., Peoria, AZ where a visitation was held on Thursday, January 8, 2004. Published in the Arizona Republic from 1/7/2004 - 1/11/2004.