Richard Bankhead Drane Sr. died at his home in Cleveland on April 30 and was buried with full military honors in a graveside ceremony at Mizpah Cemetery in Durant on May 3. Services were conducted by childhood friend and confident, Rev. Johnny A. Dinas now of Tupelo.
Following an eulogy, a military flag ceremony, and a 21 gun salute, services were concluded with the playing of taps by a military bugler.
Bankhead was the son of the late Gallie W. and Rowena Bankhead Drane. He was born June 30, 1916 and spent the first 19 years of his life in Durant, graduating from Durant High School in 1935. After graduating from Miss. State University in 1939 Bankhead entered the Army Air Corps, serving in Puerto Rico and Cuba.
On June 14, 1942 he married the former Elsie Myers, also of Durant, while still stationed in Puerto Rico.
Bankhead retired from the Air Force Reserve at age 60 with the rank of Lt. Colonel.
He is survived by two sons, Richard Bankhead Drane Jr, a Major in the Air Force in Fairfax, Virginia and Donald Ray Drane, manager of the Mississippi State Employment Service in Greenville: a brother, G.W. Drane Jr. of Jackson: and six grandchildren.
The Holmes County Herald – Page 2
Lexington, MS
May 10, 1984
Richard Bankhead Drane Sr. died at his home in Cleveland on April 30 and was buried with full military honors in a graveside ceremony at Mizpah Cemetery in Durant on May 3. Services were conducted by childhood friend and confident, Rev. Johnny A. Dinas now of Tupelo.
Following an eulogy, a military flag ceremony, and a 21 gun salute, services were concluded with the playing of taps by a military bugler.
Bankhead was the son of the late Gallie W. and Rowena Bankhead Drane. He was born June 30, 1916 and spent the first 19 years of his life in Durant, graduating from Durant High School in 1935. After graduating from Miss. State University in 1939 Bankhead entered the Army Air Corps, serving in Puerto Rico and Cuba.
On June 14, 1942 he married the former Elsie Myers, also of Durant, while still stationed in Puerto Rico.
Bankhead retired from the Air Force Reserve at age 60 with the rank of Lt. Colonel.
He is survived by two sons, Richard Bankhead Drane Jr, a Major in the Air Force in Fairfax, Virginia and Donald Ray Drane, manager of the Mississippi State Employment Service in Greenville: a brother, G.W. Drane Jr. of Jackson: and six grandchildren.
The Holmes County Herald – Page 2
Lexington, MS
May 10, 1984
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"Lt. Col USAF World War II"
"He Willingly Served The Country He Loved 1941-1969"
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