Herbert Spencer Drew

1922 - 2014

Herbert Spencer Drew, 91, passed away peacefully at his home Tuesday, July 15, 2014. Funeral: 10 a.m. Friday at Trinity Episcopal Church with the Rev. Gayland Pool officiating. Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park. Pallbearers: Duane Hedberg, Jack Holstein, Wade Jacobs, Dr. Tom Leavens, James Riddell and Steve Winters. Memorials: Moncrief Cancer Institute at UT Southwestern, 400 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76104, or at www.utsouthwestern.edu/donatenow; or Trinity Episcopal Church, 3401 Bellaire Drive South, Fort Worth, Texas 76109, in lieu of flowers. Herbert Spencer Drew was born Nov. 19, 1922, in Brooklyn, N.Y. His military career spanned more than 20 years of active duty service until he retired as a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel. He graduated from multi-engine pilot flying school in 1944, starting out with the rank of second lieutenant. His initial assignment was B-17 Flying Fortress bomber pilot training at Lockbourne Air Force Base in Columbus, Ohio. It was while he was stationed there that he met the love of his life, Patricia Ann Shaw. They married in 1945 at Pyote AFB in Pecos. Herb then tried civilian life for nearly three years working for the U.S. civil service in New Jersey. It soon became apparent that civilian life was not for him -- he wanted to fly. In 1948, at age 26, he returned to active duty. His initial assignment was flying B-29 bombers at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Fla. It was while stationed at MacDill that Herb and Pat's first daughter, Ann, was born. During 1950-1951, Col. Drew served in Korea for 15 months during the initial phase of the conflict. He flew 100 combat missions over North Korea in the C-47. His missions were primarily psychological warfare: dropping leaflets and broadcasting over surrounded enemy troops, as well as air-dropping young intelligence agents deep into enemy territory to gather information. For his service in Korea, Col. Drew received numerous medals, awards and citations. After Korea, there was a tour of duty at Kelly AFB in San Antonio, followed by three years at Hickam AFB in Honolulu, Hawaii. Shortly after arriving at Hickam, their second daughter, Betsy, was born. In 1957 Herb was transferred to McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kan., where he became an instructor pilot in the B-47 six-engine jet bomber. He later achieved the rating of command pilot, having logged a total of over 5,000 flying hours. In 1964 he was transferred to Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, where he served as chief of the training branch until he retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1967, having achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. After military retirement he became active in the securities business, specializing in mutual fund sales. In 1972 his granddaughter, Lori, was born. Herb became a general agent for the Hartford Insurance Group and received an outstanding achievement award for life insurance sales. Herb maintained his life insurance and annuity licenses until the age of 90. He had been a member of Colonial Country Club since 1970, where he enjoyed playing tennis on a regular basis and in his later years played gin rummy. Herb and Pat both enjoyed traveling, particularly cruising. Even after Pat's death, Herb continued cruising on a regular basis with his daughters and granddaughter, to all parts of the world. Herb volunteered at Baylor All Saints Medical Center and was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church where he served as vestry, senior warden and head usher. We will remember Herb's tenacity, humor and long-range planning. But most importantly, he was a good man, who always kept his word and who served his country well. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Pat. Survivors: Daughters, Ann Drew and Betsy Drew of Fort Worth; granddaughter, Lori Drew of Fort Worth; and sister, Elaine Weisberg of Brooklyn, N.Y.