Obituary of William Draper

GRAY - William "Bill" Draper, 64, a retired Maine state trooper, died Saturday morning, Oct. 23, 2010, at Maine Medical Center after a brief illness. He was born March 23, 1946, in Bangor, the son of Ashley and Neota (Wise) Draper. Bill, who graduated in the Class of 1965, was one of four brothers and one sister who graduated from Piscataquis Regional High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army serving with the 814th Engineering Company in Vietnam, until he was honorably discharged in 1968. Bill then graduated from the Maine State Police Academy, Waterville, in 1974, and worked as a Maine state trooper for 20 years. He patrolled the state of Maine for 12 years, worked for four years in the Maine Drug Unit and four years as a homicide detective. On May 12, 1990, Bill married the love of his life, Laurie (Allen) Draper. After his retirement from the Maine state police, he drove a tractor trailer hauling logs for Thorndike and Sons, Inc., Avon, from 1994 to 2003. Bill and his wife moved to Gray in 2004, where he drove a tanker truck hauling gasoline to service stations for Irving Oil Co. In 2008 he drove for K C Trucking, Inc., hauling double trailers for FedEX Ground from their local terminal in Saco to the hub in Connecticut. Bill's favorite pastimes were eating breakfast, reading magazines, traveling and spending time with his grandchildren. He was a member of the Maine State Troopers Association, Retired Truckers Association and American Legion Post, Gray. Bill was predeceased by his parents; and his sister, Ashlee Martel. In addition to his wife of 20 years, he leaves a son, Christopher and his wife, Mary Ladd, of Boulder, Colo.; two daughters, Jodie Ladd of Quincy, Mass., and Kristin Draper of Bath; three brothers, Michael and his wife, Roberta Draper, Steven and his wife, Rae Draper, and Paul and his wife, Elaine Draper, all of Guilford; and two grandchildren, Charley Belle Ladd and Nathanial Benoit. A time of visitation will be held 10-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland. Graveside service with military honors will be held noon Tuesday at Evergreen Cemetery, Stevens Avenue, Portland, with the Rev. Donald Drake officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Maine State Troopers Association Scholarship Fund, 28 Meadow Road, Augusta, ME 04330. For additional information and to leave a tribute in memory of Bill Draper, please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com.