Ronald D. Drake

Ronald D. Drake, 85, of Salisbury Center, New York and most recently a resident of the New York State Veterans Home in Oxford, New York, passed away peacefully on Saturday night, December 13, 2025 with his loving family by his side.

He was born on October 10, 1940 in Rome, New York and was the son of the late, Emerald and Genevieve (VanDeWalker) Drake. Ron was educated at Rome School and graduated from Rome Free Academy with the Class of 1959.

Upon his graduation, Ron enlisted in the United States Navy on June 3, 1959 and served during the Cuban Missile Crisis on the picket line of defense. He was stationed on the Destroyer USS Hailey and the Destroyer Escort USS Camp. After serving nearly four years to his country, Ron was honorably discharged on May 14, 1963 and held the rank of an E-5 Second Class Petty Officer.

On February 17, 1967, Ron was united in marriage to the Caroline E. Kleist at the First Methodist Church in Rome, New York. The couple shared a union of almost 59 years where they raised their two daughters, Renee and Diana in a loving and fun home.

Ron was an avid auto mechanic, making it not only his life’s work, but a joy in his ability to determine what was wrong with the vehicle in order make the proper repairs. He was an ASE Certified Foreign Car Specialist and worked at Salisbury Motor Car Company for numerous years. From there he went on to work at Westernville Foreign Auto and Sports Car, retiring in 2007.

He was of the Methodist faith and attended Salisbury Methodist Church now known as the Salisbury Community Church.

His favorite times were spent at “a little slice of Heaven, known as Otter Rock Camp on the Raquette River in Childwold, NY,” fishing in the summer, hunting in the fall and telling the “tall tales” until it was time to go back the next year. Ron was also known for his dry sense of humor and he was always ready with a “gotcha” comment.

Ron is survived by his beloved wife, Caroline at home; two daughters and sons-in-law, Renee’ and Robert Sausman of Navarre, FL and Diana and Stephen Manfred of Waterford, NY; grandchildren, Stephanie Canterbury (Teddy) of FL, Robyn Steele of Waterford, NY, Sarah Larson (Alan) of FL, and Joseph Manfred (Jordan) of Albany, NY; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Emerald and Genevieve Drake, a brother, Glenn Drake and his wife, Patsy, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Charles A and Irene Kleist.

In keeping with family wishes, there are no formal public services. The Drake family is being cared for by locally owned and family operated, Miller-Plonka Funeral Home, 30 Wolf Street, Dolgeville, New York 13329.

The Drake Family would like to thank the staff of the New York State Veterans Home in Oxford, New York for their dedicated, compassionate and steadfast care for Ron and their family the last couple of years.

The family would also like to thank the volunteers of the Salisbury Volunteer Fire Department for all their help and assistance for Ron in prior years. Please consider memorial contributions for the Salisbury Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 95, Salisbury Center, New York and to please put in the memo note, “In Memory of Ronald D. Drake” in order for the donation to be properly acknowledged.

To leave a message of sympathy for the Drake Family, please visit www.millerplonkafuneralhome.com and sign the tribute wall or leave a photo or memory for his online memory book.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ronald D. Drake, please visit our floral store.