July 5, 1918 – Sept. 23, 2011
Howard Vincent Drago, Sr., 93, of Sweet Home died Sept. 23, 2011 of natural causes at Country Meadows Care Home in Woodburn.
He was born July 5, 1918, one of five children born to Louis and Alice (Walsh) Drago in Greenwich, Conn. He was raised in Greenwich and attended and graduated from Greenwich High School.
Mr. Drago was drafted in 1942, during World War II and spent three years as a medical/surgical technician in the Army Air Forces in England, treating wounded pilots who had returned across the English Channel. In 1945 he was transferred back to Oxnard, Calif. and then, eventually, to Portland.
It was there that he met and married Marvina “Billie” Harris, who preceded him in death in 1990. They have three sons and one daughter.
After his military service, Mr. Drago started working in what is now known as Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, a career that lasted nearly 40 years, retiring as manager of the South Santiam Fish Hatchery in the late 1970s.
He could most often be found volunteering with local community organizations. There were few, if any, Sundays that he wasn’t either working a breakfast for the Elks or helping out at church.
Mr. Drago was a member of the Elks since 1957 and held every possible position. He was Elk of the Year, Officer of the Year, Exalted Ruler, Trustee, and Honorary Life Member and served as all of the committee chairs. He helped maintain the Meadow Wood Speech Impediment Camp, a primary recipient of Elks support; he assisted in providing wheelchairs and walkers for those in need; and he helped with the all-night Senior Alcohol Free Entertainment party for graduating seniors at Sweet Home High School.
He also organized a golf tournament every year for the Elks to raise money for the Casey Eye Institute clinic for children. He collected items for holiday gift baskets. He also did the shopping for the breakfasts for the Elks and the church.
In addition to volunteering, Mr. Drago enjoyed watching a good NBA or NFL game on television, playing cards with friends and having family visit. He enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family and friends. He made numerous trips to Mexico and enjoyed trips to Sun River.
Mr. Drago is survived by his sons, Vince, a retired principal, and daughter-in-law Pat of Mt. Angel; Jeff, who is retired from the Oregon Department of Transportation, and daughter-in-law Susan of Woodburn; Jim, a teacher, and JoAnn who live in Sweet Home; a daughter, Dawn and son-in-law Chris, who live in Mexico and operate a concierge business; close family friend Geneva Copper; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Recitation of the rosary was held Sept. 26 at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel, followed by a funeral mass Sept. 27 at St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Sweet Home and final burial at Gilliland Cemetery.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.