Gordon W. Draper

Preceded in death by his parents John and Fern Draper and sister Nina Bowman.

Survived by nephews Robert Bowman, William Bowman and Edward Bowman; niece Nancy Morrow and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Gordon was long active in community affairs, he has served in the Boy Scouts of America for over 68 years. To commemorate his 50th year, a cabin was named in his honor at the Great Lakes Council scout camp. A conference room at scout headquarters has now also been named in his honor. He was named an “Outstanding Eagle Scout,” which recognizes people who attained the Eagle Award and then went on to make significant contributions to their communities in their adult lives.

He was bylaws chairman for the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel (MARSP) and was President of the Northwest Chapter of the same organization for 11 years. He was Director of Area 25 for six years. After six terms as Chairman of the City of Livonia Youth Commission, he served as Livonia’s Traffic Commissioner. He had a four year term on the Michigan Builders’ and Contractors’ Board, serving three years as Chairman. He has served 24 years as president of his church choir at Newburg United Methodist. He was a long-time board member of his civic association and Vice President. He has served as president of the Investment Scouts Stock Club since its inception.

He was a life member in the Society of the Third Infantry Division, US Army and served as Vice President of Outpost 13, located in Southeast Michigan. His active service was in Germany from 1957 to 1959 as a reporter/photographer for the Marne Rock, the division newspaper. He then served three years in the 70th reserve unit as a classification and assignment specialist.

One of his several hobbies has been travelling. He has explored 125 countries, each of the world’s 24 time zones, and has been in all of the United States and the Canadian Provinces. In fact, he has finished his goal of visiting all of the 3,141 counties in the United States. He got to his last continent, Antarctica, twice in a year’s time. Photography has been an important part of his travel. Gordon has taken slides for over 40 years and the collection now numbers about 30,000 pictures.

An outdoor visitation for Gordon will be held Friday, August 14, 2020 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Harry J Will Funeral Home, 37000 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan 48152. A funeral service will be held Saturday, August 15, 2020, 37000 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan 48152. Gordon will be buried at White Chapel Cemetery, 621 W Long Lake Rd, Troy, MI.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gordon's memory may be made to Trail To Eagle Program.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HarryjWillLivonia.com for the Draper family.