Frank E. Drudge
Frank E. Drudge, 89, formerly of Silver Lake, Ind., passed away at 9:20 a.m. Monday, April 29, 2013, at Peabody Retirement Community, North Manchester, Ind.
He was born May 8, 1923, in Elkhart, Ind., to Ray and Mary Edith (Ulrey) Drudge. He was raised by his uncle and aunt, John and Carrie (Drudge) Ayers. Frank graduated from Silver Lake High School in 1941. On Sept. 27, 1942 he married Helen Sittler.
Frank was a Veteran of the United States Army serving during WWII and received the Bronze Star. He began working for his uncle at the John Ayers Market and later assumed ownership and established Drudge’s Market in downtown Silver Lake. Later, he was a rural mail carrier for the Silver Lake Post Office for 30 years. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, North Manchester, Ind., Warsaw Masonic Lodge #73, Warsaw, Ind., and the American Legion. He served his community as a longtime board member of the Lakeview Cemetery Association, Silver Lake.
He is survived by his wife; one son: Michael V. (Carole Grinstead) Drudge, Sylviana, Ohio; two grandchildren: Jeffrey (Ellen) Drudge and Derek (Becky) Drudge, both of San Francisco, Calif.; and two step-grandchildren: Nick Grinstead, Beirut, Lebanon; and Lindsay Grinstead, Chicago, Ill.
He is preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, May 10, at Peabody Chapel, 400 W. Seventh Street, North Manchester. Services will be at 3 p.m. Friday, May 10, at the chapel. Pastor Sue Babovec and Reverend Kevin DeKoninck will officiate. There will be a private burial at Lakeview Cemetery, Silver Lake.
For those who wish to honor the memory of Frank Drudge, memorial contributions may be made to Honor Flight of Northeast Indiana, PO Box 5, Huntertown, IN 46748.