Rose DRAKE

DRAKE Rose 1915-2012 Rose Wernes Drake, widow of long-time UCLA trainer and track coach Elvin C. "Ducky" Drake, died peacefully in her home in Santa Monica on January 23, 2012. Rose was interned at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica, CA, she was 96. Rose was born August 14, 1915, on the family farm in Friend, Nebraska and later moved to Iola, Kansas with her family. Rose began her 26 year teaching career in 1934 at a one-room school house in Liberty, Kansas. During the summers from 1935-40, Rose attended Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg, Kansas earning her B.S. degree in 1940. Rose taught in Petrolia and Parsons, Kansas in the late 1930's and in Wichita and Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri in the 1940's. After WWII, she taught at the American Dependents School in Stuttgart, Germany (1949-51). Upon returning to the states, Rose married Ivar Wernes, a district manager for Winter and Co, in July 1951 and they settled in Toledo, Ohio. Rose and Ivar traveled selling pianos in seven mid-western states for the next 21 years. Encouraged by Ivar, Rose took a two-year break from traveling to attend The Toledo University where she received her M.A. in Supervision and Administration in 1956. This was a remarkable feat for a woman! In 1972 when Ivar died, Rose returned to the job she loved most, teaching music at Burroughs Elementary School in Toledo, Ohio until 1981. Ducky Drake, a childhood friend, convinced Rose to quit her job, sell her home, and move west to Santa Monica, California. She did and they were married in January 1983, beginning a wonderful relationship until Ducky's sudden death in December 1988. Rose was an avid UCLA fan and she became a "regular" singing and playing piano for UCLA events. She attended most football, basketball, and baseball games into her early 90's. Rose was loved and adored by all who knew her. She had no children and is survived by nieces and nephews. The family requests donations in Rose's name to the Wooden Athletic Fund, UCLA Athletics, Morgan Center, 325 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1639.