James R. Childears April 14, 1928  to March 8, 2009Jim, 80, a Corvallis resident since 1981,  passed away at home following two major surgeries and a massive stroke.  Benton Hospice helped care for him at the home he so dearly loved surrounded by his beloved Dalmatians, Regis and Kelly, and Bixby and wife Irene.Born in Monte Vista, Colo.,  he was third of four children all of which attended Sargent Grade and High school.  He then attended the  University of Denver before joining the US Navy in 1948. He completed aviation electronics school in Memphis Tenn. His duty assignments took him to Bikini Atoll, Chincoteague Va., Keflavik Iceland, Springfield, Mass., Norfolk, Va., Frankfurt, Germany, Maguire Air Force base in New Jersey, Coco Solo, Panama, Bermuda, Kingsville, Texas, and Cubi Point, Philippines.  His final rank was Chief Petty Officer.In 1968, following retirement, he and his family moved to Merritt Island, Fla., to work for NASA on the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. In 1981 he moved to Oregon and settled in Corvallis where he married Irene Graham.   Together they designed a successful private electronics vocational school called Skilltronics in Corvallis and later moved it to Wilsonville.  When Jim tired of teaching the school was sold and renamed Pioneer Pacific College.Jim is survived by his wife Irene;  two sons,  Rick and wife Debra of Kauai, Hawaii, and Tad and wife Patty of Titusville, Fla.; two daughters, Sally and wife Jennifer of Dover, Del., and Sandra and husband Troy of Las Vegas;  two stepsons Jack and wife Celeste of Sherwood, and Gary and wife Gena of Pendleton; and numerous nephews, nieces and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his two sisters, Mary and Ruby, and his brother Leon.Jim loved the outdoors and was an excellent fly fisherman. He especially loved float trips on the Willamette river with his friend Deke Meyer.A celebration of his life will be from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Sunday, March 15th at  River Bend Clubhouse located at 3501 Shoreline Drive in South Corvallis. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Heartland Humane Society.AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling the arrangements ( www.aasum-dufour.com ).