Altadena, CA

It is with great sadness that Walter Milton Drake, age 101, passed away in the early morning hours of January 24, 2025 at Huntington Hospital. He was born on October 1, 1923 in Tollerberg, Colorado to Ira and Frances Drake. Ira was a coal miner and his mother a cook in the coal camp. Walt had 2 younger brothers, Stan and Wesley.

When the coal ran out and the depression hit the family moved to Inglewood California where Ira was fortunate enough to gain work as an auto mechanic at a local Ford dealership. In 1936 the family moved to Pasadena, California where Walt attended Elliott Junior High School and then Muir High School. A month after the attack on Pearl Harbor and Walt having just turned 18 on October 1, he felt duty bound and enlisted in the Army Air Corp. After training, in May 1944 he was assigned to Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk, England as a P-38 pilot. He participated in D-day in his P-38 and later that year his squadron switched to the P-51 in which he completed his 70 missions and came home in December 1944. 2 months after coming home he married the love of his life, Marjorie Lane, and settle down in Pasadena to start and raise a family and build his career at Altadena Federal Savings & Loan. Walt and Marjorie had 4 boys; Tom (passed away in 2023), Rick, John and Stephen. He was a leader in the Pasadena Community, his church, Civitan, and the California Savings & Loan Association. Altadena Federal Savings became Republic Federal Savings and in his 45-year career with Republic Walt became President and Chairman of the Board. Marjorie and Walt were married for 61 years before Marjorie passed away in 2006. He suffered from dementia in his last 7years of life, but he never lost the core of himself which was humor, kindness and love for his family. Walt was a member of Annadale Golf Club for many years and the game of golf was his passion along with spending time with his family. His Saturday morning standing Tee time was never missed as was church on Sunday with Marjorie and 4 sons. He is survived by 3 sons, 7 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.