NORWICH – William D. “Bill” Drake, 68, of Berry Street, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007 at the Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center in Johnson City.
Bill was born in Utica on March 30, 1938. He was the son of Robert and Catheryn (Ryan) Drake. Bill moved to Norwich in 1970 and on Sept. 3, 1971 he married Mary A. Paino. Mary died on July 11, 1988.
Bill was a professional driver, having worked for Carlo Masi Produce in Utica, Don Keator, Behlog Distributors, NBT Bank. He was still driving at the time of his death.
Bill was a fan of NASCAR, but will be remembered as Norwich’s biggest Yankee fan. He was a member and long-time usher at the Church of St. Bartholomew and a former member of the Norwich Moose Club.
Bill is survived by two sons, Paul Utter and Linda Jones and daughter, Jessilee of Norwich and Andrew “Scott” Utter and Christina Babcock and son Morgan, also of Norwich; two additional grandchildren, Caitlin and Devon Utter and a brother-in-law, Richard Paino and his wife, Mary of Norwich. Bill was predeceased by a son, Michael Utter and two brothers, Raymond and Robert Drake.
A Mass of Resurrection for Bill will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Church of St. Bartholomew. Burial will take place in the spring in St. Paul’s Cemetery. Friends are invited to call at the Wilson Funeral Home on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Contributions in memory of Bill may be made to the charity of your choice.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the Wilson Funeral Home website at: www.wilsonfh.com.