WHITESBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – The founder of Double Kwik convenience stores has died.

Don Childers passed away on June 29th. He was 92.

Childers was a native of Hellier, KY in Pike County. He became a sales representative for Gulf Oil in 1956 and later purchased Gulf stores in the Whitesburg area, starting Childers Oil Company in 1966.

As an independent owner, Childers turned the small group of former Gulf stations into over 40 Double Kwik locations while serving as owner/operator of other business ventures including Pine Mountain Grill in Whitesburg.

A memorial service for Childers will be 1 p.m. on Monday, July 8th at Whitesburg First Baptist Church.