Raymond Albert Drake, a lay leader at First Baptist Church in Arlington, died Jan. 28. He was 90. Drake was born in Gist on July 17, 1933, to Virginia Elizabeth Mahaffey and Chester Harold Drake. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur and earned his bachelor’s degree in history at Baylor University. He worked 41 years for Lockheed Martin as a facilities manager. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Arlington 68 years, where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and choir member. He participated in the Master’s Singers and especially enjoyed singing the bass line in the great hymns of the church. After he retired, he and his wife Helen traveled to more than 60 countries, and he loved family campouts with his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by siblings Clyde Arnold, Chester Harold Jr. and Frances Drake. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Helen Bacon Drake; daughter Jan Anthony and her husband Gary of Temple; daughter JoAnna Burns and her husband Kevin of Dallas; daughter Jeanine Elgin and her husband Paul of McLean Va.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Memorial gifts may be made to Mission Arlington.
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