Richard D. Drake

Richard D. "Dick" Drake, 80, of Shelbyville passed away, Sunday, October 25, 2009 at Major Hospital. Born August 31, 1929, in Flat Rock, he was the son of John N. Drake and Mildred (Clemmons) Hickam. He married Patsy M. Pile on November 4, 1950, and she survives. Other survivors include sons, R. Douglas (wife, Carmen Fewell) Drake of Shelbyville and Paul (wife, Dayla) Drake of Batesville; daughter, Denise (husband, Mike) Hobbs of Shelbyville; brothers, Jim Drake and Tim Drake, both of Shelbyville, David Drake of Kissimmee, Florida, John Drake of Westfield and Terry Drake of Rushville; sister, Lisa Burton of Hope; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and stepmother, Doris Drake of Shelbyville. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Karen Wheeler; an infant daughter, Millie Lynn Drake; and stepfather, Joseph Hickam. Mr. Drake graduated from Flat Rock High School in 1947 and attended New Mexico State Teachers College for one year. He was a U.S. Navy veteran during the Korean Conflict, serving from 1950 to 1954 on the USS Shelton DD790 Destroyer in the Pacific Theater. Mr. Drake had been employed at Hartman Brothers Construction for 20 years and by Schumaker Brothers for 11 years, retiring in 1999 from Milestone Inc., where he was project manager. He was a member of Flat Rock Christian Church; Norristown Masonic Lodge, where he was past master; Flat Rock Order of Eastern Star in Norristown; Murat Shrine; Shelby County Shrine Club, where he was past president in 1981; Scottish Rite; and American Legion Post No. 70. Mr. Drake enjoyed watching sports and golf was his favorite pastime. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. Funeral services at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home will include Eastern Star and Masonic rites and military honors. Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice, 931 E 86th St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-1852 and Shriner's Hospital for Children, 3229 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3018.