Charles Fabyan Drake

SPRINGFIELD Va. — Col. Charles Fabyan Drake, U.S. Army Retired, 83, of Springvale, Va., and Eliot, Maine, died July 16, 2011, at Inova Fairfax Hospital, Fairfax, Va. He had been a resident of Springfield for more than 40 years.

After serving an enlistment in the Army, Colonel Drake enrolled in the ROTC program at the University of New Hampshire and was commissioned as 2nd lieutenant. He was called on active duty during the Korean War and served with the 187th Airborne RCT in Korea and Japan. He served a tour of duty with the 173rd Airborne Brigade during the Vietnam War. His final assignment, before he retired from military service in 1978, was in Oberammergau, Germany, where he served as Commandant of the NATO School (SHAPE).

Colonel Drake's military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Master Parachutist Badge, Glider Badge, German Parachutist Badge, among others. He was a proud member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Association (the "Herd") as well as the American Legion, VFW, the U.S. Field Artillery Association and the Society of Forty and Eighter.

He was an enthusiastic participant of Revolutionary War reenactments with the Royal Irish Artillery. He also loved hunting, fishing, boating and camping.

Colonel Drake was born in Portsmouth, N.H., in 1927 to the late Fabyan and Mary Drake. He attended the University of New Hampshire, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., and St. Benedict's College at Atchison, Kan.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Rosina Drake; five children, Barbara Drake of Gloucester, Mass., Fabyan Drake of Springfield, Va., Christopher Drake (Helen) of Eliot, Maine, Mary Cortina (Jim) of Annandale, Va., and Ingrid Freeman (Philip) of Reston, Va. He is also survived by his five dear grandchildren, Erika Drake, Tomas Drake, Charles Freeman, Michael Cortina and Andrew Freeman; one sister, Ruth Benedict-Drake of Cape Neddick, Maine, nieces and nephews.

Friends may visit with Col. Drake's family on Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 23 at 10 a.m. in St. Christopher Church in York, Maine with Fr. John Skeehan, as celebrant, followed by full military honors and interment Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Eliot, Maine, and a time of refreshment in the Eliot Grange Hall.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Army Emergency Relief, 200 Stovall Street, Room 5-N-13, Alexandria, Va 22332-0600, the Fisher House, 111 Rockville Pike #420, Rockville, MD20850-5168, or your charity of choice. Arrangements are entrusted to the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home.

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