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Harano Emner Childs, 95, of Winchester, died Saturday, January 13th at the Willows at Meadow Branch.
Mr. Childs was born on January 31, 1922 in Long Beach, California, son of Harry Edward and Ethel May Crouse Childs. He was preceded in death by his wife Margaret Mae Fahnestock Childs and sister Althea Nadine Childs Cates of Houston, Texas.
Surviving are his children Marsha A. Childs and her husband John D. Copenhaver of Winchester, and Meredith P. Childs and his wife Dana of Coos Bay, Oregon; and four grandchildren: Maranda Childs of Perth Australia, Maegan Catchpole of Seattle, Washington, Thomas Copenhaver of Denver, Colorado and Melissa Childs of Portland, Oregon.
Mr. Childs was a graduate of Berwick High School, Berwick Maine. While attending meetings of the Society of Friends, he was influenced by the Quaker faith to become a conscientious objector to war and served his country through Civilian Public Service (CPS) stationed at Big Flats, New York, and Mount Weather, near Paris Virginia. During his service at Mount Weather he attended Calvary Church of the Brethren where he met and courted Margaret, the pastor’s daughter. They married June 2nd 1946 in Winchester and were married 66 years. He was an accountant for the National Fruit Product Company for 36 years, retiring in 1986. Mr. Childs was a member of Calvary Church of the Brethren where he was a member of the Bible Class and served as church treasurer and chairman of the building committee. He enjoyed gardening and was known for his assortment of day lilies and unusually large parsnips, both of which were featured in Winchester Star articles. As a big fan of railroads and railroading Mr. Childs was a member of the National Railway Historical Society and served as the group’s treasurer for many years. No matter where he lived he built a model train layout and enjoyed sharing his layout with others. In 2010 his grandson, Thomas, created a short documentary film titled “Harano Childs – Model Railroader” that won an award at the Progeny Film Festival at Virginia Tech—it is still accessible on You Tube. As a volunteer for the Congregational Cooperative Action Project (CCAP), he picked up baked goods at local grocery stores for distribution by CCAP.
He supported many peace and justice causes and held membership in the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) for over 70 years. He supported Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the cause of racial justice and equality and his letter of thanks from Martin Luther King Jr. served as the inspiration for the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fund of the Winchester NAACP.
The family wishes to thank the caregivers of the Willows and the Blue Ridge Hospice for their compassionate care.
His funeral will be Friday, January 19th at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Church of the Brethren, 578 Front Royal Road with Revs. Chuck Davis and John Copenhaver officiating. Interment will follow at Shenandoah Memorial Park.
The family will receive visitors Thursday, January 18th 6:00-7:30 pm at Calvary Church of the Brethren.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to CCAP, 112 S. Kent St., Winchester VA, 22601 or the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Fund of the Winchester NAACP through the Community Foundation of the Northern Shenandoah Valley (CFNSV), P.O Box 2391, Winchester, VA 22604. Please identify the “MLK Scholarship Fund”” in the check memo section or include a note.

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