Vinuard James Drake, 92 , widower of Helen Proctor Drake since 2015, to whom he had been married for 70 years, entered into eternal rest at his home in Lexington Thursday, September 17, 2020. He was a native of Butler County, KY born August 22, 1928, to the late Ollie James and Mary Knight Drake. V.J. was a retired employee of General Electric where he had worked for 35 years. He loved farming and was a big UK sports fan. He was a member of Crosspointe Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon and Trustee, a member of Masonic Lodge 742, Eastern Star Stanley Chapter 252 OES, and York Rights.
He will be fondly remembered by his children, Sheila Drake Melander, husband Chuck, David Drake, wife Ava, and Bruce Allen Drake, wife Melinda; grandchildren who he adored Ryan Melander, wife Sarah, Matthew Melander, Jack Wade, wife Jordan, Wade Drake, Johnny Bruce Drake, Tiffany Drake English, husband Joey, Tekoa Drake Kuras, husband Bill, and James William Drake; six great-grandchildren; brother, Jerry Drake and wife Zena; as well as many extended family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters.
A Remembrance Service will be held on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 2:00 PM CST in Owensboro in the Crosspointe Baptist Church, 550 Worthington Rd, Owensboro, KY 42301 and he will be laid to rest beside his wife Helen in the Utica Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 PM CST at the church. The family will have a Celebration of Life for his friends in the Lexington and Louisville area on Sept. 19, beginning at 5:00 until 8:00 EST at Malone’s Prime 3373 Tates Creek Road, Lexington, KY 40502. “What the heart has once known, it will never forget”.
The number of those attending the remembrance service shall be within current health and safety directives. Family and friends must wear appropriate personal protective masks.