Roberta Drake 1940-2021

Mrs. Drake was born July 9, 1940, in Crestline, daughter of the late Paul and Elizabeth Huffman Snyder.

Bobbie graduated from Crestline High School in 1958. She was a secretary for eight years at Geauga Plastics Company in Crestline before moving to East Palestine in 1968. She was a member of the former Grace Lutheran Church in East Palestine. Bobbie was also a homemaker and childcare provider for several children in East Palestine and Columbiana including Katherine, Elizabeth, Jared and Mark VanArsdale, who were like family to her. She made and sold crafts under the name of “Bobbies Hobbies” for 25 years, retiring in 2004.

While she was in Crestline, she was worthy advisor (1956) for Rainbow for Girls Crestline Assembly No. 66 and received the Grand Cross of Color in 1957. A member and past matron of East Palestine Chapter No. 381 Order of the Eastern Star, she received the Eastern Star of the Year Award in 2000 and was grand page to the deputy grand matron in 2002. Bobbie was also a board member and secretary for the East Palestine Rainbow for Girls No. 77 for several years. She was a member of Poland White Shrine No. 64, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Galion and a member of the National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees.

Her husband, John D. Drake, whom she married Oct. 25, 1966, preceded her in death Sept. 23, 2008.

Roberta is survived by a daughter, Joanne Heimlich Bosh of Galion; nephew, Richard R. Snyder of Delaware, Ohio; a niece, Ottine Miller of Tarboro, N.C., whom she helped raise; three grandchildren, Jeffrey LaRue, Jonathon LaRue and Jamie LaRue; and two great-grandsons.

She was also preceded in death by her son, Kenmore Drake; a sister, Mildred Bohmrich; and a brother, Bradford Snyder.

The family will receive friends from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 10, 2021, at the Van Dyke-Swaney-Rettig Funeral Home, East Palestine, where face masks are required and social-distancing protocols will be followed.

Private funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 10, 2021, at the funeral home, with the Rev. William Wilkins officiating. Order of the Eastern Star services will be held at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Glenview Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Kenmore B. Drake Scholarship Fund at Youngstown State University, Office of University Development, One University Plaza, Youngstown, OH 44555.

Family and friends may view this obituary and send condolences at www.familycareservices.com.

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