Robert Childers, Artist, Dies
Robert Edward Childers III, 60, an artist, who designed the Hobbie Holly cloth doll while on the staff of American Greetings Inc. in New York, died Saturday in Medford.
Enturnment [sic – Interment] will be in Jacksonville Cemetery with Hillcrest Mortuary, Medford, in charge of arrangements. No service is planned.
Mr. Childers was born Jan. 21, 1924, in Lostin [sic – Lostine], Ore. He attended Medford schools, graduating in 1941 from Medford High School. While a student he had small parts in early Oregon Shakespearean Festival productions in Ashland.
Following graduation he served in the U.S. Navy for six years.
He then attended school in Copa, Miami, Fla., Philadelphia Museum School of Art, and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, from which he received his master’s degree. He received a gold medal upon graduating from the Museum School of Art and attended the Academy of Fine Arts on a Cresent scholarship.
He also attended evening classes at Fleisher Memorial and performed for two years with the Philadelphia Dance Theater.
His paintings – oil on canvas and wood – are exhibited in Philadelphia galleries, including three permanent exhibits in Wagner, Pa., and Minsky History of Theater. He was sponsored for three one-man shows in Philadelphia.
While in Florida he worked for Ron Rico Rum.
Following his studies, he worked in fabrics, film production, toys and illustrations for publishers with du Pont in New York City. At the same time he maintained a studio and old twine factory over the Cherry Lane Theater.
He lived in Greenwich Village for 19 years before accepting a position developing new products for American Greetings Inc. While there he designed the Hobbie Holly cloth doll. His paintings are on display in Washington Square.
Returning to Pennsylvania, he joined the staff of Norcross Inc. and opened a gallery. “The Red Pony”, in Eagle, Pa., where he lived until returning to Medford in 1980. While here he worked as an artist.
Survivors include his mother, Flora Merriken, Central Point; one brother, Tom Childers, Hayward, Calif.; and one son, Toby Childers.
The Mail Tribune, Medford, Oregon, Monday, May 21, 1984, Page A13