Sgt Warren Gamiel Eugene Draper, Sr., 86, of Bedford, died, Saturday, May 19,2007 in Bedford Memorial Hospital. He was born in Bedford on December 28, 1920, a son of the late Frank Price Draper, Sr. and Mary Lena Smith Draper. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Sergeant Frank P. Draper, Jr., one of the Bedford Boys who died on June 6, 1944 in the D-Day landings on Omaha Beach. Warren was an Army veteran of World War II and Korea and a member of the National Guard for 34 years. He was a member of VFW Post 2157 and Bedford Moose Lodge #1897 and attended Bedford Christian Church. He was a retired Bedford City Police officer with over 20 years of service and also a retired machinist from Aerofin Corp with over 23 years of service. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Fleda Lipford Draper; two sons, Frank Price Draper and his wife, Lisa of Williamsburg and Warren G. Draper, Jr. and his wife, Lisa of Bedford; two daughters, Flora Zell Mayhew and her husband, Raymond of Bedford, Donna Maria Collier and her husband, Thomas of Big Island; a brother, David Samuel Lewis Draper and a sister, Verona D. Lipford, both of Bedford; also seven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Those wishing to make memorials are asked to consider the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 77, Bedford, VA 24523. Funeral Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday May 22, 2007, at the Tharp Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Bill Moore officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery with military graveside rites by American Legion Post 16. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today May 21, 2007, at Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, 586-3443. To send online condolences please visit www.tharpfuneralhome.com.


Published in the Roanoke Times from 5/20/2007 - 5/21/2007.