Fred Drake

Fred Paul Drake, 83, of Idaho Falls, passed away January 27, 2012, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center of natural causes. Fred was born July 20, 1928, in Massillon, Ohio, to Ralph Francis Drake and Louise Carolyn Halblaub Drake. He grew up in Jackson Township and attended schools there. He earned his journeyman machinist certification from Temkin Roller-Bearing Company and in conjunction with earning his bachelor’s degree at the University of Cincinnati. He served in the U. S. Air Force for two years following the Korean Conflict. On April 7, 1956, he married Martha Joyce Cooke at First Presbyterian Church in Amarillo, Texas. Fred and Martha lived in Amarillo, Woodland Hills and Los Angeles, California, Coco Beach, Florida, and Dayton, Ohio, Baltimore, Maryland, and Thousand Oaks, California, before moving to Idaho Falls. Fred worked as a Mechanical Engineer at General Electric, Rocketdyne Division of North American Aviation and then at EG&G Idaho at the INL until his retirement. Fred enjoyed golf, skiing, deep sea fishing and spending time in the outdoors hiking and camping. He was a handyman and enjoyed tinkering with things around the house. Fred is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Martha, son, Fred and his wife, Rose, Drake of Monterey, CA; daughter, Gretchen and her husband Gari, Mungo of Concord, CA; two granddaughters, Kylie Mungo and Lauren Mungo; two grandsons, John Ericson and Brandon Ericson; and two great grandsons, Austin Ericson and Noah Ericson. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Carolyn Ritz and Elenore Howard. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 4, 2012, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 237 North Water, Idaho Falls, with Reverend Brenda Sene officiating. The family will visit with friends from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in California. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 237 North Water Avenue, Idaho Falls, ID 83402.

Memorial Services -- Saturday

11:00 a.m. ,Saturday, February 4, 2012 Trinity United Methodist 237 North Water Avenue Idaho Falls, ID 83402 Notes: The family will visit with friends from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in California.