Daniel William "Bill" Drake went to be with the Lord on January 11, 2021, in Clermont, FL. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Julie (Lott) Drake, his children Chuck Drake, Karen Daniels (Jeff), and Lisa Seiber (Donnie); grandchildren Jennifer White (Mike), Ross Daniels (Samantha), and Shelbi McRae (Travis); great-grandchildren Jacob White, Brynn White, Josh White, Hazel Daniels, Harper Daniels, and Sloane Daniels; and his brother Milton Drake (Nelda), as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Clyde W. Drake and Myrtle (Rouse) Drake.
Bill is a 4th generation native of Orange County, Florida, and because his great-grandfather, John Ivey, was born in Florida before it became a state in 1845, Bill is part of Florida Pioneers. His great-great grandfather, Robert Ivey, came to Orange County from Hamilton County in 1857, was granted 80 acres south and west of Lake Eola in 1872 by Ulysses S. Grant. Robert purchased additional land extending to Old Winter Garden Road to farm, raise cattle, and grow oranges.
Robert’s eldest son, John Ivey, was the first elected Sheriff of Orange County in 1871.
John’s daughter, Mary Jane Ivey, married Daniel Webster Rouse and they were parents to Myrtle Ivey Rouse, Bill’s mother. Daniel Webster Rouse’s brother married Mary Jane Ivey’s sister Sarah.
Daniel Webster Rouse’s family came to east Orange County around 1860 and farmed in the area on and around Rouse Road. Daniel Webster Rouse was born in1863 and is buried at the Drawdy-Rouse Cemetery on Rouse Road.
Bill would hunt and fish with his brother Milt and their many cousins on that land and the land near the Econ River. Bill and his father Clyde would tell stories about gator hunting off of the actual Iron Bridge and trips to the St. Johns River for fishing. Bill would get stuck in back of the Model A, which was open and held the hand made boat, and had to breathe the exhaust fumes on the trip.
Bill’s father, Clyde William Drake, came to Orlando from Iowa by way of Ft. Lauderdale in the mid-1920s and met Myrtle Ivey Rouse at Wilson’s Shoe Store on Colonial Drive near Mills Avenue, where they both worked. They bought several lots on E. Muriel St. between Mills and Ferncreek and that gave Bill and Milt many lakes to fish within a short walk.
Bill learned to water ski on Little Lake Conway behind a small wooden boat with a small outboard motor. Bill was hefty as a child so the motor had to be strong or else it took a long time to pull him up. Milt may have delayed the process…..
He spent many days and years with his best friend since they were 6 years old, Jimmy Pitts, who lived around the corner, hunting and fishing and general goofing off as kids…and as adults.
Bill went to Kaley Elementary School, Cherokee Junior High, and Orlando High School (now Howard Middle School). He was a member of Future Farmers of America and helped plant the trees and bushes for the opening of Boone High School (he was in the first graduating class at Boone in 1953). Boone High School was named for William R. Boone, the principal at OHS, and who was to be the principal at the new high school. Unfortunately, Mr. Boone passed away before the opening so they honored him by naming the school for him.
Bill spent a few growing seasons in his dad’s orange grove on Steer Lake Road laying irrigation pipe and moving sprinkler heads, spreading fertilizer, and lighting smudge pots during cold winters. He was very happy when his dad installed overhead sprinklers so no more moving irrigation pipes around a 90 acre grove. That was enough work in addition to cutting grass at home with a real mower.
He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and was stationed in Fort Meade, MD, and Fort Jackson, SC, as well as Ider Oberstein, Germany, Baumholder Germany.
Bill began working at Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company in 1957 and eventually his department transitioned to AT&T, where he continued until his retirement in 1994.
The funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2021, at 2:00 P.M., at Drawdy-Rouse Cemetery, 4050 Rouse Rd., Orlando, with Father Bill Slight of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church presiding.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, 4500 Anderson Rd., Orlando, FL 32812, Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, Shriner’s Hospital for Children, or St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, TN.
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