Carolyn Childers
Carolyn Ruth (Crawford) Childers was born in Winterset, IA on April 18, 1941. She was the second of four children of Juanita Amstrong Crawford and D.H. (Pete) Crawford. She, her parents, sisters, Carol and Karen, and brother, Denison resided on the family farm south of Earlham, IA. The farm was settled in 1858 as a presidential grant to her great-grandfather.
She attended Earlham High and was active in band and 4-H. Northwest Missouri State College was the place that created the next forty years of her life. Teaching was her niche. Some of her best memories were at NWMSU.
On December 26, 1966, Ruth married Allen Childers at the Worthington Methodist Church south of Earlham. They moved to Tama, IA to teach. Two children, Michelle (1970) and Skyler (1978) joined the family. Teaching and family and church activities kept Ruth busy.
In 1988 and 1989, Ruth spent her summers in France. Skyler accompanied her in 1989. As the recipient of the 1989 Rockefeller Fellowship, she spoke French, ate French food, saw all the sights, walked and walked, lived with a French family and made many new friends. She studied at the Univerite’ d’Angers in Angers, France through the University of Northern Iowa.
Ruth served the Living Faith UMC youth groups. She taught church school classes for 20 years. She was the director of God’s Kids Puppets for 25 years. The group presented the message with songs in churches in the surrounding 60 miles.
After retirement from South Tama Schools in 1999, she served as the ESL person for East Marshall Community School as well as subbing at East Marshall and the Meskwaki Settlement School from 2000 to 2010.
The rest of the time was spent with Dennison and Penelope Childers, her grandchildren. Ruth and Allen were excellent grandparents and found much joy in life with that role. Ruth had the opportunity to see her grandchildren grow and develop into amazing people and she was so proud of them. She wouldn’t miss a pageant or concert if she could help it.
Ruth is survived by her children: Michelle Childers, Aurora CO, Skyler (Elissa) Childers, Newhall IA; grandchildren: Dennison and Penelope Childers. Her sisters, Karen Hendrickson, Alamogordo NM and Carol Curry, East Moline IL and several nieces and nephews. She is proceeded in death by her parents, Pete & Nita Crawford, four brothers-in-law, her husband Allen Childers and her brother Denison.
A celebration of Ruth’s Life will be held on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at St. Paul Lutheran Church (700 Harmon Street, Tama, Iowa 52339) between 7-9PM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to your local school band or animal shelter.