Rev. Donald E. Drake, 85, of DuBois, went home to the Lord on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, at the DuBois Nursing Home.
Born April 22, 1929, in Lock Haven, he was the son of the late Robert B. and Lola Wolfe Drake. On June 8, 1949, he married Jeanne Barner Drake. She preceded him in death May 5, 1987.
He resided in Hyner, and graduated from the Bucktail Area High School. He was a member of the Army National Guard, serving as a Staff Sergeant at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Don was employed by the Pennsylvania Forestry Service and by Hammermill Paper in Lock Haven.
He entered the ministry in 1964, serving in the United Methodist Church in the Central Pennsylvania Conference at the Halfmoon Charge at Stormstown. He also served in Western Pennsylvania Conference at the Grampian Charge, DuBois Trinity UMC, and Penfield UMC.
Although he retired in 1994, he preached at several churches during his retirement and filled the pulpit of the Anita Lutheran Church for the past 14 years.
Don was a member of the Grampian Lions Club and the Hyner Sportsman Club. He volunteered in the Pastoral Care Department of the DuBois Regional Medical Center for several years.
He performed gospel magic and ventriloquism in his ministry.
A member of the Friends of Gettysburg and a big Civil War buff, he made many trips to Gettysburg and other Civil War battlefields
He is survived by his daughter, Viki Bell and her husband, Boyd, of Clearfield; and his son, Kenton Drake and his wife, Judy, of DuBois. He had five grandchildren: Robin Bell Brown and her husband, Erik, of Clearfield, Brent Bell of Philadelphia, Nathan Bell of Clearfield, Corry Drake and his wife, Dana, of Pittsburgh, and Dylan Drake and his wife, Ami, of Jacksonville, N.C.; and four great-grandchildren: Andrew and Evan Brown, and Levi and Waylen Drake. He is also survived by five nephews and three nieces.
Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his infant daughter Linda Kay Drake; infant brother Robert Drake; and his sister Grace Drake Lunger and her husband Howard.
Visitation and the Aug. 27 funeral service were at the Goble-Baronick Funeral Home, DuBois. His friend Pastor David Nagele officiated. Burial was in Friends Cemetery, Grampian.
Memorial donations may be made to the Hyner UMC, 6767 Renovo Road, Mill Hall, PA 17751, and/or the
charity of the donor's choice
.
Online condolences may be made at gbfuneralhome.com.