Norma Drake mourned by family

DOWNEY - Norma Bernice Drake of Downey passed away peacefully on Oct. 22 surrounded by family.She was born in South Bend, Ind., to Albert and Beda Bloomquist. In 1929, the family moved from South Bend to Huntington Park. She attended Huntington Park High School where she met her husband to be, Kenneth Drake. They were married Aug. 16, 1939, at the Union Street Lutheran Church of Los Angeles and this year celebrated more than 70 years of marriage. The family moved from Huntington Park to Downey in 1955 where they have resided for the past 54 years. She volunteered more than 6 years in the gift shop of the Lutheran Hospital in Los Angeles. She also volunteered for more than 20 years for the Department of the Navy's Retired Activities Office (RAO) Volunteer Services. She was instrumental in writing and mailing out their monthly bulletin Liberty Call. She is survived by her husband Kenneth Drake; son Larry Drake (Susan) of Downey; daughter Nancy Bailey (Ken) of Rancho Cucamonga; four grandchildren: Cherie (Mark) Ventola of Corona; Brandon (Rhonda) Bailey of San Jacinto; Lorna Comee (Kelly) of Downey; David Drake of Huntington Beach; and seven great-grandchildren: Matthew and Kayleigh Ventola; Shawn and Blake Bailey; Marilyn, Lillian and Isaiah Comee. ********** Published: November 6, 2009 - Volume 8 - Issue 29