Andrew (Drew) Gene Childress passed away peacefully in his home on January 11th, 2026.

Drew had been battling ALS for several years. His beloved wife Daniela and his brother

Steve were at his side.

Drew was a 1983 graduate of Sandusky High School, Sandusky, OH. He attended the

University of Michigan on a Navy ROTC scholarship, graduating with a degree in electrical

engineering. After Michigan, Drew moved on to oQicer training school and the Navy’s

nuclear power program. After completion of those programs, he served as an oQicer on the

USS Indianapolis (SSN-697), a Los Angeles class fast attack submarine in the Navy’s fleet

out of Pearl Harbor, HI.

On completion of his Navy commitment, Drew began a career in the communications

engineering field in Chicago. His career took him to Austin, TX, and eventually to the west

coast, where he settled in Vancouver, WA.

Drew truly enjoyed travel, and met his second wife, Daniela (Danny) while on a trip to

Ecuador. They married in September of 2019, with his Australian Shepherd, Obee, by his

side as his best man.

ALS is an insidious disease that slowly destroys your body while leaving your mind fully

capable and imprisoned in that failing body. Drew fought it valiantly, but ALS always wins in

the end. His wife Danny was his rock through everything. For anyone that has experience

caring for an ALS patient, you know the commitment required. And Danny went above and

beyond for Drew throughout his entire fight.

Drew his survived by his wife Danny, his dogs Obee, Yaku, and Sugar, his mother Marianne

Dawson, his siblings Steve (Sheen), Cathy, Cynthia Passafiume (Mike), and Michael, his

nephew Joe, his nieces Tori and Kendall, and Taylor Sparhawk, who was like a daughter to

him.

Drew wanted a wake to celebrate his life, so there will be a very small service at Straub’s

Funeral Home in downtown Camas, WA, on Thursday 1/15/26 @1:00pm. After we will

congregate at The Grains of Wrath in downtown Camas to celebrate Drew have a drink in

his honor. Everyone is welcome.

Drew will be forever in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to The ALS Association

https://www.als.org in Drew’s honor or to Team Gleason https://teamgleason.org/ , who

provided Drew with his first motorized wheel chair.