Drew Conrad Salling

Drew Conrad Salling,76, of Roswell, Georgia; formerly of Winchester, Massachusetts,loving father of Brian Conrad Salling of
Canton, GA and Mark Andrew Salling of Kennesaw, GA. Former husband of Miquelina (Micki) Malone of
Mercer, WI and Panama City Beach, FL. Drew died peacefully on November 18, 2024 from health
complications at 76 years old. Funeral services will be private.
Drew was the son of Raymond Conrad and Patricia Drew Salling of Winchester, MA. He was born in
Baltimore, Maryland where Ray started his first job after serving in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant J.G. in
World War II. The family lived briefly in Baltimore before moving to Poughkeepsie, NY where Drews
sister, Pamela Salling Coady, was born three years later. His youngest sister, Diana (Didi) Salling
LaRochelle was born in Boston, and Ray and Patty bought the family home in Winchester, MA until
1976.
Drews maternal grandparents, Arno and Frances Drew, lived in West Roxbury, MA. Drews paternal
grandparents resided in San Leandro, CA. Frederik and Hilda Salling emigrated to the United States in
the early 1900s from Stockholm, Sweden. Drew was very proud of his Swedish heritage.
Drew started Kindergarten at the George Washington Elementary School in Winchester, MA at age 5,
and met his lifelong, best friend, Jack Stone. They were in the same classroom, one seat apart, through
the sixth grade. They participated in many activities together: Boy Scouts, fishing, Boy Scouts Camp in
the summer and other camping excursions. During their junior high and high school days, they expanded
their friends group to include Billy Brusseau, Paul Staniewicz and John Buzzotta. They did everything
together like the 5 amigos.
Drew was a talented musician, who studied piano at first, then the sousaphone with the Winchester
High School Band. After a Post Graduate year at Bridgton Academy in Bridgton, Maine, he took his
musical ability to Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1971, and was a member of the
Gettysburg College Marching Band. He loved the notoriety of playing the sousaphone; it was not an
instrument that many kids signed up for!
Drew spent the majority of his work life in sales for a variety of companies, but he worked initially for
Otis Elevators and then Westinghouse-Elevator Division in Gettysburg. He once went to the office in
Milburn, NJ where he met his future wife, Micki Merces. They married in 1973 and both worked for
Westinghouse until they were transferred to Roswell, GA in 1975, where Drew remained for the rest of
his life. They welcomed their sons, Brian in 1977 and Mark in 1979.
Drews most memorable job was at the Quest Travel Group in Roswell. This company provided group
travel to pastors from all over the country to take parishioners to religious and meaningful locations
such as the Holy Land and the Steps of Paul/Greece Journeys. Drew was sometimes able to serve as
their tour guide as well.
Drew is survived by two sons: Brian and his daughters, Juliette and Lila, and his son, Conrad, of Canton,
GA; and Mark and Shelley and their sons, Parker and Preston of Kennesaw, GA. He loved seeing them
and visiting with them on holidays and watching them grow. He was also very proud of his sons
accomplishments.
Drew loved all things New England, especially Kennebunkport, Maine (formerly the family summer
home), and all that it offered: lobster and steamers, fried clams, lobster buoys, the smell of salt air and
the deep blue color of the Atlantic Ocean. Drew travelled north as often as possible to enjoy these
things once again and refresh his soul.
Didi LaRochelle is Drews sole surviving sibling and she lives with her husband, Bob, in Seabrook, NH.
Drew was a fond uncle to Andrew David LaRochelle of Pompano Beach, FL, and Eric Salling LaRochelle
and Rebekah LaRochelle of North Andover, MA. He was great uncle to Ean and Adam, who first knew
him as "Uncle Dukie."
For more information, please contact the Canton Funeral Home in Canton, GA online at
https://www.cantonfuneralhome.com/obituaries or by telephone at 770-479-2788.
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