Robert C. DRAPER

MATHEWS - Robert Clifton Draper formerly of Chesterfield, Va., and lastly of Mathews went to be with his Lord on April 16, 2010, at the age of 73.
He is survived by his loving wife, Anna of 56 years; and his children, Robert C. Jr. and his wife, Hope of Disputanta, his son, Donald W. and his wife, Karen of Dothan, Ala., his daughter, Laura Rexroad and her husband, Dennie of Aiken, S.C.; eight devoted grandchildren, Carol Hasaj and her husband, Ardian of Hopewell, Kendall and Claudia Andrews and their brother, Robbie Draper of Dothan, Ala., Blake, Virginia, Carmen and Aaron Rexroad of Aiken. He is also survived by two nieces in Chesterfield and many, many friends in both Chesterfield and Mathews, Va.
He was a devoted and oldest son to the late Clifton and Rose Draper of Hopewell, Va.
Robert led a multi-faceted and exciting life as he owned and operated private airplanes, was an avid automotive enthusiast and most well known for his contributions as "Captain Bob", a licensed 100-ton USCG captain. Throughout his maritime career, he operated both public and private watercraft on the Appomattox River and Chesapeake Bay, most recently as a water-taxi operator at the Tides Inn Marina. Together, he and Anna shared the love of the water by building their family beach cottage on Cape Hatteras, N.C., in the seventies and more recently in the nineties when they moved to the Mathews waterfront and built their "dream home" at Hills Bay that he loved so much. He had an Elvis-esque voice which he gladly shared with others singing at local nursing homes, churches and other public venues throughout the Richmond and the Bay area. His love for music furthered his interest in playing the guitar and more recently, the banjo. Robert possessed a natural talent and a love for all things automotive, much like his father, a lifetime Hopewell mechanic. Throughout his life, Robert rebuilt several cars, and more recently a frame-off restoration with his son, Bob Jr. on a Dr. Pepper red 1950 Ford Business Coupe. Robert came to know the Lord late in life and found great joy throughout his years of service as a Deacon at Westville Baptist Church. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his name to Westville Baptist Church, 105 Main St., Mathews, VA 23109.
The family will receive friends at Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home, Mathews, Va., from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 19. A celebration service of his life will be held at Westville Baptist Church at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 20, with a meal to follow. For those who live in the Tri-City area, a graveside service will be held at Southlawn Memorial Park, 1911 Birdsong Rd., Petersburg, Va., at 3 p.m., Tuesday, April 20, 2010. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.