Ted Draa

Wayne A. Draa, known to all as Ted, age 95, passed away on February 27, 2024. 

He was born on November 20, 1928, in Stratton, Ohio, to Charles and Ruth (Householder) Draa. Ted lived his childhood in Stratton before moving to Alliance in 1940.

He graduated from Marlboro High School in 1946. After graduation, Ted, along with his friends, John Smith, Paul Kandel, and Mel Haines, went to seek their fame and fortune in Florida. They rented rooms from a couple from Pittsburgh and had parties in the parking lot.

Ted started in the tool and die industry with Gottschall Tool and Die in Salem in 1951 and eventually became the company president until his retirement in 1995. He took great pride in his work and held a U.S. patent for a bolt design.

Ted loved animals and it has been said that he never met one he didn’t like. He enjoyed fishing and shooting with his son. He was an avid reader and also enjoyed building radio-controlled airplanes.

He married his first wife, the former Shirley Mack in 1948. Shirley passed away in 2021. She and Ted were high school sweethearts. 

Besides his parents, he was also preceded in death by two sisters, Eloise Eddington and Sally Waxler.

Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Michael (Patty) Draa of Rio Rico, Arizona; a grandson, Ted Draa of Searsport, Maine; a brother, Rick (Cherie) Draa of North Canton, Ohio; several nieces and nephews; friends at CCCTC Adult Education; and his little friend Dawn in Arizona. 

Ted is also survived by his adoring wife, Deborah Carney Arter-Draa, whom he married at his Guilford Lake home on September 12, 2021 and their fur babies, Maddie and Jax “Blackie”; Adam and Erin Arter of Lagrange; their children, Adam (A.J.) Arter of Virginia Beach and Rebecca Arter of Canton, Ohio; brothers-in-law, Jim Bach and Tim Montgomery; His Guilford Lake neighbors, Ralph and Karen Royea, John and Janet Burns and their dog, Jay Jay; the Al Holenchick Construction team; his Alliance neighbors, Steve Diehl and Ray Fetters; his St. Jacob’s United Church of Christ Church family and Steve Broache; his friends from Action Physical Therapy in Salem and Discount Drug Mart in Lisbon, and the many squirrels he so enjoyed feeding.

 Graveside services for Ted and Shirley will be planned at a later date.

 A star fell on Guilford Lake last night. I’m okay with you moving from my arms to God’s arms. I will always love you my amore.

 Donations in Ted’s memory may be sent to either the Stark County Humane Society or to the Alliance Salvation Army.