Capt. John Francis Drake

Portsmouth, RI - John Francis Drake, 80, of 20 Indian Avenue, Portsmouth, RI, died Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at Newport Hospital, Newport, RI. He was the husband of Frances J. Warren Drake.Born in Boston, MA on December 28, 1925, he was the son of the late Louis E. and Julia McCarthy Drake.Captain Drake served in the United States Navy during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam Conflict. He served as Commanding Officer on the USS Luce DLG 7, the Ford County LST 708, the destroyer Compton DD705, and was the Commadore of the destroyer Div 122. Captain Drake was the commanding officer of the United States Navy Base in Newport, from 1972 to 1974 and was Chief of Staff of COMCRUDESLANT under Adm. Thomas Weschler. After his retirement from the Navy in 1980, he joined the VITRO Corp of Middletown, RI until he retired in 1995. He was a communicant of St. Barnabas Church, a lector, and also sang in the choir. Captain Drake was a board member and past president of the Newport Rotary Club. He served on numerous fund-raising committees including Newport Polo. Captain Drake was also a life member of the Navy League and the Portsmouth VFW.Besides his wife of 56 years, he is survived by his children Richard E. Drake of Deming, WA, Robert L. Drake of Portsmouth, RI, Laura A. Blackall of Chesapeake, VA, Catherine L. Coffey of Saratoga Spring, NY, Mary S. Riordan of Melville, NY, Donna M. Garcia of Santa Rosa, CA, Jean M. Fucile of Suffolk, VA, Theresa M. DeVine of Portsmouth, RI, his sister Sheila Weeks of Dedham, MA, his grandchildren Eric and Stephanie Drake of Sumas, Washington, Jennifer Henninger of Las Vegas, NV, Kelly Coffey of Quincy, MA, Kerry Golden of Sartatoga Springs, NY, Sarah and Kristen Riordan of Melville, NY, Jessica Drake of Norfolk, VA, Ashley and Anthony Fucile of Suffolk, VA, and Adian DeVine of Portsmouth, RI, and his great grandchildren Dakota Ann Drake of Sumas, Washington, and Kayla Henninger of Las Vegas, NV.He was the father of the late Diane R. Drake and the brother of the late Louis P. Drake, Mary T. Warner and Evelyn R. Scaramuzzo. His funeral will be held on Monday, September 18, 2006, at 9:00 am from the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will be in Newport Memorial Park in Middletown.Calling hours will be held on Sunday, September 17, 2006, from 1-3 and 6-8 in the funeral home.In remembrance of John Drake those that wish may make a donation to the Diane R. Drake Memorial Scholarship Fund, C/O Roger Williams University, Development Office, One Old Ferry Road, Bristol, RI, 02809.