Richard Drake

Drake, and son and daughter-in-law, Richard M. and Elizabeth

(Popielarczyk) Drake, all of Monson. He was the widower of Irma P.

(Scussel) Drake, who predeceased him on May 27, 2001; and the grandfather

of two grandsons, Gregory and Evan Drake, also of Monson. Mr. Drake was

born on Nov. 8, 1928 in Worcester, Mass., and was the son of the late

Clement B. and Bernice M. (Williams) Drake. He attended schools in

Rutland, Mass., and in Monson. He served in the U.S. Army in 1947,

receiving a medical discharge due to a leg injury he had suffered prior

to joining the military. He married Stafford Springs, Conn., native Irma

Scussel on Sept. 22, 1951; the couple lived in Stafford Springs until

September 1954, when they moved to Monson. Mr. Drake was a truck driver

for the former Metal Culvert Company in Palmer for several years and then

worked at a series of manufacturing companies, retiring in 1990 from

Tambrands, Inc. in Three Rivers. He was a member of the Day Spring Lodge

of Masons in Monson for more than 40 years and was especially dedicated

to organizing its annual blood drive and to donating blood as long as he

was able. He enjoyed fishing and was a sports fan; he and his oldest

brother, Clem, watched the Super Bowl together for many years. He was

proud to be an American and was extremely respectful of all those who

served in the U.S. military, always removing his hat, standing and

saluting as the military men and women marched by in Monson’s annual

Memorial Day parade. In addition to his wife and parents, he was

predeceased by two brothers, Clement B. Drake Jr., and Wilbur Drake; and

two sisters, Janet Shorette and Arlene Shorette. Besides his children and

grandsons, he is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Francis and

Barbara Drake, of West Springfield; and many nieces and nephews and

grandnieces and grandnephews. The funeral will be held on Monday, April

27, beginning at 9:15 at Lombard Funeral Home, 3 Bridge St., followed by

a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Church, 22 Green

St., and burial in Hillcrest Cemetery, all in Monson. Visiting hours will

be held from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, April 26 at the funeral home. Memorial

donations may be made to the Monson Fire Department Ambulance Fund, P.O.

Box 335, Monson, MA 01057. All funeral arrangements are entrusted to

Lombard Funeral Home, Inc., 3 Bridge St., Monson, Mass.