DOWNEY - Memorial services for Kenneth Drake will be held Friday, Nov. 15, at Church of Christ in Downey starting at 11 a.m.The church's address is 8321 Imperial Hw. in Downey. Drake, 95, passed away peacefully on Oct. 28. He was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on April 4, 1918, to Arthur Drake and Kathryn Hall. Drake attended Huntington Park High School where he met his wife to be, Norma Drake. They were married Aug. 16, 1939, at the Union Street Lutheran Church of Los Angeles. After living in Huntington Park with Norma and his two children for many years, the family moved to Downey in 1955 where he lived in the same house for 58 years. When he turned 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the USS Idaho. Drake had a distinguished 32-year naval career that spanned WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He was a faithful member of the Downey Masonic Lodge since 1955; a Life Member of the local Masonic High Twelve Club; and a member of American Legion Post 270. When Norma passed away on Oct. 22, 2009, it was Gerinet Healthcare which provided her hospice care. He attended a bereavement group at Gerinet and initially agreed to volunteer 2-3 hours a week at the hospice facility; those hours gradually increased to 8-10 hours a day, five days a week. His main responsibility was to fill orders for hospice supplies needed by the nurses. In addition, he facilitated bereavement groups and visited patients. He is survived by his son, Larry (Susan) Drake, of Downey; daughter, Nancy (Ken) Bailey, of Rancho Cucamonga; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

********** Published: Nov. 7, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 30