___

BEASON-Robert E. "Bob" Drake, 89, of Lincoln, formerly of Beason died at 4:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Lincoln.

Bob was born on October 8, 1923 in Cornland, IL the son of M.B. and Clara Belle Robinson Drake. He married Mary Beth Jacobson on July 18, 1948 in Galva, IL. She survives.

Also surviving Bob are four daughters: Margaret (David) St. Clair of Houston, TX; Nancy (Dennis) Uphoff of Beason; Sarah (Dan) Starkey of Cincinnati, Ohio; Tina (Bruce) Gumbel of Marietta, GA; two brothers: George (Elinor) Drake of El Paso, IL; Andrew Drake of Morton, IL; eight grandchildren and six great grand children. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers: Michael, Donald, David and Richard Drake.

Bob was a retired farmer from the Beason area. He served in the U.S. Army during W.W. II. He was a member of Beason United Methodist Church; lifetime member of the Beason-Chestnut American Legion Post #848, he was organist at the Beason United Methodist Church for 64 years, member of Beason School Board for many years, lifelong member of the Masonic Lodge AF&AM. Bob received a Purple Heart as a medic during W.W. II in France.

Services for Bob will be Saturday, August 31, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at Beason United Methodist Church with Rev. Darrell Howard officiating. Burial will be in Harmony Cemetery, Beason, IL. with full military rites accorded by Lincoln American Legion Post #263. Visitation will be Friday from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Beason United Methodist Church. Masonic services will be held at 3:30 p.m. prior to visitation. Memorials may be given to Beason United Methodist Church or Beason Fire and Rescue.

Arrangements were entrusted to Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home, Lincoln.