William Dunker Draper

November 16, 2024, William Dunker Draper, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great
grandfather passed into the hands of God and we here, who loved him are truly heartbroken.
William (Bill) Draper, first son of Herbert (Bill) Kinsley Draper, Jr. and Marie Priscilla (Dunker)
Draper, was born on December 15, 1935 in Canton, MA. In time he was joined by his sister
Ursula and brother Charles. It gives us great comfort to know that he is now reunited with them
and all those beloved family and friends who have preceded him.
Bill graduated from George Mason High School in Falls Church, VA in1953 and attended
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA before entering the Air Force as an In-Flight Photographer serving
both in Japan at Itazuke Tower and Wichita Falls, TX. While in Texas he became friends with
Jon Reese who introduced him to his older sister Judith K. Reese, a newly graduated RN from
Ironton, MO. After a whirlwind courtship, he and Judy were married on April 15, 1960 in
Needham, MA. Bill took up carpentry, and Judy worked as a nurse. They made their home in
Needham where they welcomed four children: Jonathan, Jennifer, Barbara and Amy.
In 1973 The Drapers moved from Massachusetts to Missouri where Bill, assisted by family and
friends, built a large ranch house on a hill, surrounded by 5 acres of land in Acadia. He and
Judy would live in this house for 43 years, raising their kids, their crops and a menagerie of
dogs, cats, pigs and chickens, all of whom he adored. As a builder, Bill was meticulous, and he
passed on his work ethic and construction skills not only his son Jonathan, but to the many
students he instructed at the Arcadia Valley Vo-tech and Unitec Career Center in Bonne Terre,
MO.
Bill Draper was a man of faith who loved God and cherished his wife and family. And although
he liked to affect a gruff exterior, even a casual acquaintance would reveal a warm,
openhearted person who enjoyed handing out a good natured ribbing as much getting one in
return. A gifted athlete and tough competitor, Bill tried his hand at it all: football. swimming,
track and field, softball, hockey and golf. He enjoyed coaching young people, first in football
and later in track and field. He was a voracious reader. Shelves of books lined the walls and
when he and Judy, now long since retired, downsized to a snug little home in Farmington those
books were re-homed, only to be replaced with more volumes.
Now, he has set aside his earthly burdens and the frustrations of advancing age to walk in the
light and love of God. And we, his family and friends hold him in our hearts and cling to the
memories of a full life, well lived and overflowing with love.
William Dunker Draper, age 88, is survived by Judy Draper, his wife of 64 1/2 years. His
children: Jonathan and Alicia Draper, Jennifer and Tom Dettmer, Amy and Erin Montgomery,
Barbara and Eric Givens. His beloved grandchildren: Tom Draper his wife Christie Barnes and
their son Paul, Chelsea Draper, Andrew and Caitlyn Dettmer, Thomas Dettmer and his fiancée
Madeline, Mackie and Nicole Dettmer, Tyler and Richelle Montgomery and their son Adrian,
Reese Montgomery and his fiancée Alexandra and Ella Montgomery. He is also survived by
sisters and brother in law: Linda Draper, Barbara and Dean Adams and many cherished nieces
and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Bryson Funeral Home Chapel with Elders Mark and Larry Sutton officiating. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. prior to the services. Interment with full military honors will be in Arcadia Valley Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, PO Box 1000 Dept 142, Memphis, TN 38101 or St.jude.org. Memorial envelopes are available at the funeral home.