Kenneth Otha Drake's Obituary
Kenneth Drake
Resident of Castro Valley
Born in Oakdale, Nebraska on September 6, 1918, to Otha and Alma Drake, he passed away September 1, 2022, peacefully with his son and daughter-in-law by his side, just 5 days shy of his 104th birthday. After graduating high school, the “dust bowl” in the Midwest drove his family (via a Model T) to the San Francisco Bay Area where they settled in Oakland then moved to Castro Valley, California. Ken was trained to be a cabinet maker, working at various shops in the East Bay. Ken met Dorothy, who predeceased him in 1965, and they married October, 1941. Ken joined the Army in November 1941, just before Pearl Harbor and served in the Pacific until he was discharged in October 1945. Their first son, Russell was born April 1945, followed by their second son Ronald, in October 1947, Ron also predeceased Ken, in June 2010. Ken built their home on Almond Rd in Castro Valley and worked as a civilian at the Public Works Center on the Alameda Naval Air Base for over 30 years before retiring. Ken met a widower, Elizabeth “Betty” and they married July 1966. Eventually, moving to a retirement community in Lincoln, CA where Ken enjoyed wood working in his garage and line dancing with the ladies at the clubhouse 5 days a week. At the age of 97, Ken broke his hip, he and Betty decided it was best to move to an assisted living center in Auburn, where most of Betty’s family resides. When Betty passed in July 2020, Ken moved back to Castro Valley where he could be close to his son and family. Ken returned to Almond Rd, living at the Almond Road Senior Estate care facility.
We will greatly miss the man who loved to dance, woodwork, water ski, garden, fish and enjoy family gatherings. Ken is survived by his son, Russell (Hilary), step-children Jim (Ronda), Darlene, Tom (Kathy), Jack (Linda) and Cheryl (Bruce) along with 17 grandchildren, Tom (Milinda), Angela (Scott), Trisha (Doug), Brian (Heather), Erin, James (Teresa), Ed (Billie), Michelle, David, Lori (Jeff), Scott, Mike (Lucy), Matt, Troy (Julie), Janice, Demitra (Drew), and Blake, and 33 Great-Grandchildren and 14 Great-Great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews who loved Ken and will miss him dearly.
Services will be held at the Chapel of the Chimes, Mission Blvd, Hayward, CA on September 15, 2022, at 12:00pm, internment to follow at 1:45pm.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to a charity of your choice.
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