Drake, Harold M.

Harold Morton Drake Jr., of Canton and Cundy’s Harbor, Maine, formerly of Hyde Park, passed away December 16, 2016, at his home in Cundy’s Harbor. This home was very special to Harold, as it was the retirement home he built for his beloved wife of 67 years, the late Olive Belle (Snow) Drake, and the place where he shared many, many fond memories with Olive and his family.

He was the loving father of Nancy E. Drake-Simpson of Canton, David H. Drake and his wife, Karen, of Rotonda West, FL, Jennifer C.E. Drake of Puyallup, WA, and the late Richard D. Drake, and the dear father-in-law of Barbara Drake of Londonderry, NH. Harold was the devoted brother of the late Dorothy Drake, Lucille Drake, and Sally Boyington. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and many other cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, and great-grandnephews.

Harold was born in Brockton and grew up in Hyde Park. In 1940, he graduated from the Boston Latin School and went on to Tufts University as an economics major while at the same time entering the Naval ROTC program. In 1942, he entered the Navy and received his degree and officer’s commission. During World War II he served in the Pacific aboard the USS Salt Lake City and received several awards and citations, including the Asiatic Pacific Medal with three stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal with one star, and the WWII Victory Medal. Harold was then awarded the Distinguished Veteran’s Service Award in 2006.

After his military service, he attended Boston College Law School, graduated and passed the bar in 1966, and continued to practice law in Canton for the next 40 years. Harold was very active in his local community, including serving as a member and past president of the Viking Club, as a longstanding member of the Blue Hills Civic Association, a contributor to the Master Plan Study Committee in Canton, a member of the Canton Republican Town Committee, a member of the York Street Neighborhood Committee, an active member of the Council on Aging, and serving in a leadership position for the Canton Housing Authority. He also served as a deacon of the United Church of Christ in Canton.

Harold Drake was an accomplished man, devoted to his community, his family and his country.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend services for Harold on Saturday, January 7, at 10 a.m. at the Congregational Church of Canton, 1541 Washington Street. A celebration of Harold’s life will follow the services. Burial will take place at Milton Cemetery in Milton, but will be limited to family and close friends at the family’s request.

As Harold was devoted to the Congregational Church of Canton and the Cundy’s Harbor Community Church, his family would appreciate any donations be sent to either church in the memory of Harold Drake. The addresses for the churches are as follows: Cundy’s Harbor Community Church, Attn: Bernice Kenney, 863 Cundy’s Harbor Rd., Harpswell, ME 04079, and Congregational Church of Canton, 1541 Washington St., Canton, MA 02021.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Dec 30 2016. Filed under Obituaries. Both comments and pings are currently closed.