John Henry Drane

A Rosary will be held at St Therese Catholic Church, on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, from 11:00 am to 11:30 am, followed by a Memorial Mass Service at 11:30 am.

He was born on August 25, 1948 in Keyser, West Virginia. John was the son of the late Harry K. and Eleanor A. Drane. John graduated from Piedmont High School and was proud to have been on the school's basketball team which won the State Championship in 1965-66. He attended Potomac State College for one year before enlisting in the U. S. Navy.

While stationed at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, on a weekend pass, John met Lynne at a USO dance in Milwaukee. They were married on June 21, 1969 and began their life together as directed by the U. S. Navy. They were first stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for three years. Multiple deployments to Adak, Alaska and other various ports during the Vietnam era kept him at sea and seasick much of the time. The Navy then transferred him to shore duty at a radar transmitter site in Totsuka, Japan for the remainder of his enlistment. Japan turned out to be a treasured experience for both John and Lynne. After John's discharge, the couple settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and John began pursuing his many interests.

John loved racing cars and started racing in the Sports Car Club of America, racing both stock and formula cars for many years. He then moved up to the pro circuit for a few years racing in the Canadian Formula 2000 Championship Series. Restless as he was, he decided to pursue his other true love - flying. He obtained his private pilot's license in 1992. He loved aviation and everything associated with it. He built his first plane while living in Arizona. After their retirement, John and Lynne moved to Texas. John discovered Tailwind Airpark and with his love of aviation, decided this was the place they needed to be.

Morning coffee at Hangar 12 at Tailwind Airpark was something he never missed. The shared camaraderie with his fellow aviators and neighbors was very special to him. John wasn't much of a board game player but he never failed to enjoy a rousing game of Mexican Train Dominoes with friends.

John and his unique sense of humor, Grumpy Grinch, will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Eleanor Drane; brother, Harry K. Drane II; brother in-law, Joseph Muto.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Lynne Drane; sisters: Anne V. Muto of Scott Depot, W. Virginia, Helen Jenkins and husband, Terry, of Keyser, W. Virginia, Elinor J. Drane of Fairmont, W. Virginia ; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Final resting place will be at DFW National Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.