Charles “Roy” Drake (CR), beloved husband, son, father, grandfather and mentor passed away at his home on May 9, 2018. Roy was born on March 2, 1944 to Charles Cameron Drake and Mary Francis Drake in Reno, NV. Roy graduated from Reno High School where he met and married Carol Ann Drake (Terkildsen), his wife of 54 years.
Roy and Carol were challenged with three sons: Cameron Scott, Craig Russell and Christopher Niles. Roy often believed that he was paying for the misdeeds of his youth while raising his own children.
After graduating from Reno High School in 1962 Roy attended the University of Nevada, Reno and was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.
Following his time at UNR he completed an electrical apprenticeship and began a career as an electrician with Landa Electric in Reno. While working at several construction projects across northern Nevada, Roy discovered the small City of Winnemucca where he knew he wanted to raise his family. In 1971, Roy and Carol opened C.R. Drake and Sons and it continues to provide electrical services today.
Roy had a love of adventure and discovering the back roads of Nevada on his many Land Rover camping trips. Throughout his life he was civically minded and was a member of: Reno Jeep Squad, Civil Air Patrol, E. Clampus Vitus, Free Masons, Winnemucca Volunteer Fire Department, Winnemucca Little League and Ducks Unlimited. Roy was passionate about many things, including: waterfowl hunting, the Winnemucca Volunteer Fire Department, fishing, Wildhorse Reservoir, old westerns and building “forts”. His latest “fort” was the duck cabin at the Canvasback Gun Club in Fallon, NV which became his second home and second family.
Roy will be missed by his family, his many “adopted” sons, electricians that apprenticed under him, contractor’s that worked with him and his many camping and hunting buds.
Roy is survived by his wife Carol and his three sons and six grandchildren: Amaya and Michael Drake (Cameron), Madison and Emily Drake (Craig), and Landon and Lauryn Drake (Christopher) and sister Maryellen Petronzi (Blase) of Reno. A celebration of life will held at 10 a.m. on June 16, 2018 at the Winnemucca City Fire Hall at 1078 East Winnemucca Blvd. (attire will be your favorite camouflage or summer shorts). Roy would have wanted it that way. In lieu of flowers please take a kid or grandparent fishing.
