Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Drake, Richard Stanley January 11, 2016
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Pat Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net June 14, 2020, 5:56 pm

Ionia Sentinel Standard-Thurs. Jan. 14, 2016

RICHARD STANLEY DRAKE
Richard Stanley Drake, 93, of Ionia, Michigan passed away Monday, January  11, 2016,
at Green Acres Assisted Living in Ionia. Richard was born April 25, 1922 in Lowell,
Michigan, the only child of Harry C. and Daisy M. (Higgins) Drake.

He graduated from Ionia High School and the Dodge Radio and Telegraphy School of 
Valpariso, Indiana. He married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Dreger, Aug. 30,
1942. They celebrated 67 years of marriage before her death in 2010. Richard and Ruth were
long time members of St. John's Lutheran Church, Ionia, where Richard served as Elder for
many years.

Beginning August 1942 he served in World War II with the U.S. Army. He was stationed
in both Germany and France in the 563 SignalCorp as a telegraph operator until the end
of the war. He received an honorable discharge as a Staff Sergeant and earned the
European-African Middle Eastern campaign ribbon with two bronze Stars.

Richard worked his entire career for the Grand Truck Western Railroad, starting as a
telegraph operator in Dryden. He was Station Agent in Ionia, Muskegon, and St. Johns
prior to his retirement in 1984.

He was an addicted, if sometimes erratic, golfer in his active years and an avid,
lifelong Detroit Tigers fan. After his retirement, he and Rugh enjoyed many winters in
Lakeland, Florida, golfing and watching Tigers spring training games. He was known to many of
his fellow Green Acres residents as "Mr. Tiger."

He is survived by his two sons; Douglas (Judi) and Brian (Patricia) Drake; four 
grandchildren; Tim, Kerrilyn, Benjamin and Matthew Drake; two step-grandchildren;
Jeff and Dan Pierce; numerous great and great-great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the staff of Green Acres Retirement center and Ionia
Area Hospice for the care he received in his final years.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Jan. 18, 11 a.m. at St John's Lutheran Church
with Pastor Fremer officiating. Visitation on Sunday from 1:30-3:00 p.m. at Lake Funeral
Home in Ionia. Richard will be interred with his wife and parents in Balcom Cemetery,
Ionia. Those wishing may make contributions to the St. John's Lutheran Church ladies Aid Society.

Online condolences may be made at www.lakefuneralhomes.com


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