Glenn Drake's Obituary
Glenn Allen Drake, son of Clarence Mott “C.M.” and Ada Williams Drake, was born July 18, 1918, on a farm in Ford County, Kansas. He departed this life Monday, December 29, 2008, in his home, in Elfindale Retirement Complex, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of ninety years, five months, and eleven days. On July 5, 1941, he was united in marriage to Velma Pearl Archer, and to this union two daughters were born. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Clarence and Alfred Drake; and three sisters, Maude Metcalf, Mildred Smith, and Ruth Mervin. Glenn is survived by his loving wife of sixty-seven years, Velma, of the home; two daughters, Glenna Loughmiller, and her husband, Sam, of Merriam, Kansas, and Deanna Gunnett, and her husband, Bob, of Billings, Missouri; three grandchildren, Natalie Thomas, and her husband, Mark, of O’Fallon, Illinois, Barry Allen Loughmiller, and his wife, Jamie, of Satanta, Kansas, and Andrew Drake Robert Gunnett, of Billings, Missouri; a step-grandson, Aaron Gunnett, of Billings, Missouri; two great-granddaughters, Tabitha Thomas and Adrian Loughmiller; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends. He was born and raised near Dodge City, Kansas and attended rural elementary school in Ford County. He graduated from Dodge City High School in the Class of 1938. While in high school, he was active in the athletic program, especially in basketball and track, and lettered in both. After graduating from high school, he came with his parents to Missouri, where he met and married, Velma. In October of 1943, he entered the United States Army, receiving his basic training in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Following six months of training in tank maintenance, he was sent to the European Theater with the 3rd Armored Division attached to the First Army. He arrived in Europe at Normandy Beach in June of 1944. He fought with the Army through France and into Germany where he took part in the Battle of the Bulge, repairing tanks on the front lines. He remained in Germany until the end of the war. He was honorably discharged at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, in February of 1946, as a Staff Sergeant. Following his time in the Army, Glenn returned to his home near Lebanon, Missouri, and lovingly helped Velma raise their two daughters. He worked as a mechanic for the Chevrolet Garage until 1967, when he founded and began operating Glenn Drake Garage on South Washington Avenue. He continued in this endeavor until retiring in 1992. Since September of 2005, Glenn and Velma made their home at Elfindale Retirement Complex in Springfield. Glenn professed his faith in Christ and was baptized into membership of the Christian Church in Stoutland, Missouri. He later moved his membership to the First Christian Church of Lebanon, where he had been a member for almost sixty years. He served the church for many years as an Elder, Church Treasurer, and as head usher. Since 1957, Glenn had been involved in Babe Ruth Baseball, serving in capacities from coach to Missouri State Commissioner. Young men from six to eighteen years of age from all across Missouri and other states in the Midwest hold Glenn in high esteem. He was inducted into the Missouri Babe Ruth Hall of Fame in 1988, and the International Babe Ruth Hall of Fame in 1998. The Lebanon Park Board named the Babe Ruth baseball field in Lebanon the Glenn Drake Field in honor of Glenn’s many years of dedicated service to Babe Ruth baseball. In 2003, he was named Champion of Youth and inducted into the Lebanon Area Sports Hall of Fame. His other area of interest in his spare time was in hunting, and he particularly enjoyed pheasant and quail hunting. His family was very important to him and he was especially proud of his daughters and their families. Glenn was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and will treasure the wonderful memories he made for his family and many friends. Services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday January 2, 2009 at the First Christian Church. Burial will be in the Lebanon Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday evening 6-8:00 pm at the funeral home under the direction of the Holman-Howe Funeral Home Lebanon, Missouri. A memorial has been established to the American Cancer Society or to the National Kidney Foundation. Donations may be made through the funeral home. Return to top
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