Funeral services for Mr. Howard Vernon Draper, Sr., will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday November, 24, 2017 in the Chapel of Gallagher Funeral Home in Ball, Louisiana, with Reverend Gordon Scoggins officiating. Burial will be in Big Creek Cemetery, Pollock, Louisiana, under the direction of Gallagher Funeral Home and Crematory, Ball, Louisiana.

Mr. Draper, age 94, of Eunice, Louisiana, entered eternal rest on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at Colfax Reunion Nursing and Rehab Center, in Colfax, Louisiana.

Howard was born near LaGrange, Indiana in October of 1923. He enlisted in the military in 1942 and wanted to do his part in World War two. He served as a guard during the war crimes trials in Germany at the end of the war. Upon returning home, he was stationed at the air force base in Pollock Louisiana. It was during this time that he spotted a really cute girl walking down the road while on guard duty. He told his buddy “I intend to marry that girl”. He stuck to his word and has remained married to Georgia Juanita for over 74 years. After being discharged from the military, the two, along with their two children, moved to Michigan. In 1977 Howard and Juanita left the cold winters of Michigan to establish a household on the very road where Howard first saw that cute girl years earlier. Howard worked at several jobs but always reverted back to his passion of driving trucks. He hauled logs out of the Louisiana swamps for many years before retiring at age 70. The couple attended Corinth Baptist Church down the road from their home.

Mr. Draper is preceeded in death by his parents, Herman Oliver Draper and Lucy Ellen Gillingham Draper; brothers, Oliver, Ralph, James, Richard, Charles, Willie, and Robert; sisters Evelyn Austin , Mary Ellen Weirich, Margaret Bowerman; and granddaughter, Maria Tilford.

He is survived by wife of 74 years, Juanita McBride Draper; daughter, Kathryn Tilford (Richard) of Marengo, Ohio; son, Howard Draper, Jr. (Tracy) of Eunice, Louisiana; granddaughters, Harlee Draper of Lafayette, Louisiana, and Heather (Tim) Prindle of Delaware, Ohio; grandsons, Mark (Debby) Tilford of Chesterville, Ohio, Nathan (Rochelle) of Fredricktown, Ohion, Joshua Tilford of Marengo, Ohio; five great grandchildren, Colin and Liam Prindle, Raven Tilford, Leah and Caleb Tilford; brother, Bill Draper; sister, Gladys Strait; brother and sister- in- law, Kenneth and Joann McBride; sister- in - law, Louise Floyd; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends may visit on Friday, November 24, 2017 at Gallagher Funeral Home in Ball, Louisiana from 1:00 p.m. until time of service at 2:00 p.m.

Friends may post online message of condolence for the Draper family by visiting www.gallagherfh.com.