Leo “Skip” Childs III of North Truro died tragically as the result of a lawn mower accident at St. Peter’s Cemetery on Friday, August 7th.
Skip was born on January 30, 1951 in Far Rock-Away, Queens, New York to Leo A. Childs, Jr. and Marjorie Johnson Childs. The family moved back to Centerville in 1951. Skip attended local schools, graduating from Barnstable High School in 1969. He enlisted in the United States Coast Guard after graduation. He completed basic training and then completed US Naval Firefighting Indoctrination and Refresher Course in Norfolk, Virginia; Engineman Class “A” School, Yorktown, Virginia; and “Buttercup” US Naval Training Center in Newport, RI. He was assigned to the USCGC Westwind, Icebreaker class followed by assignment to the USCGC Hornbeam, Buoy Tender class in Woods Hole. Skip served with distinction receiving two Coast Guard Unit Commendation Ribbons for the rescue of two New Bedford fishing vessels, the Mother of Grace and the Gannet. All hands and both vessels were saved and brought back to port safely. Skip was aboard the Hornbeam when it was rammed off the coast of Nantucket by a Brazilian freighter Docelago in 1972. Skip received the Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He attained the rank of 2nd Class Petty Officer (EN-2) before his Honorable Discharge into the Coast Guard Reserves in 1973. He met and married Marjorie A. Roderick in 1971.
In 1974, Skip and Margie, and their two young children, Stephanie and Matthew moved back to Provincetown where Skip went to work for his father-in-law at Rod’s Service Station on Conwell St. Upon the sale of the service station, Skip had a variety of employment opportunities and adventures. He was a scalloper aboard the F/V Gerda Riva and then aboard the F/V Barbara Lee where he served as Engineer when the vessel traveled from New Bedford, down the coast, through the Panama Canal and up the west coast to begin scalloping in Cordova and Seward Alaska. After returning home he was employed by Cape Cod Oil and then in his own garage, Skip’s Auto Repair Texaco in North Truro. In 1994 he began employment as a mechanic with the Department of Interior, Cape Cod National Seashore. During his tenure, he received multiple awards and recognitions, most notably the Northeast Region Maintenance Employee of the Year. In the meantime, he had joined the Provincetown Fire Department and became the Steward on Pumper #1. Looking toward the future of EMS, he took firefighting courses and became an Emergency Medical Technician. In 1995, he joined Truro Fire Department. He achieved successful completion of the EMT-Paramedic Course. He became a Fire Captain and then, because of his hard work and devotion to his community, he was made the first and only Battalion Chief of Rescue. He was an honorary member of the Wellfleet Firemen’s Relief Association. He also trained and became a Wildland Firefighter for Cape Cod National Seashore. He was deployed to the Badlands to battle fires.
Skip actively served his community in many ways. He served on the Board of Fire Engineers, Truro Planning Board, Truro Agricultural Commission, Habitat for Humanity and the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Peter’ Church.
He was a communicant of Our Lady of Lourdes in Wellfleet. He also was a master gardener and avid beekeeper.
He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Marjorie of North Truro; his daughter Stephanie Hakala and her husband Erik and his son Matthew Childs and his wife Heather, all of West Yarmouth; his Grandson Paul Haberski and his wife Amanda of Warwick, RI. He is also survived by his sisters Kathleen Fitzpatrick (Peter Webber) of Waquoit Village; Sharon Cushman (Bob) of Groton; Elizabeth Rogers of Marstons Mills and his brother Douglas Childs of Wilmington, NC. He was predeceased by his parents and a brother, Kenneth Childs.
He is also survived by his sister-in-law Rainie Brownell and her husband Larry and his sister-in-law Christine Roderick and brother-in-law Warren Roderick as well as many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his beloved 20 year old brown tiger cat, Wiley.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Leo “Skip” Childs III Memorial Fund, c/o Seamen’s Bank, Attn: Stacey White, PO Box 74, North Truro, 02652. This fund has been established to honor our beloved Skip. He had a passion for life, learning and teaching others his craft. The donations made to this fund will be distributed to organizations that Skip supported and that will carry on his legacy.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 17th at 10 AM at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Wellfleet followed by internment at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Centerville. Due to Covid-19, all services are private.