David Jerry Drum Sr.

Jerry was born April 7, 1935 in Newton, NC. A 1953 graduate of Lee Edwards High School in Asheville, he attended Wake Forest University for three years at the original site in the town of Wake Forest and was part of the first graduating class at the Winston Salem campus in 1957. He was an active member of the Sigma Pi Fraternity.

​After 4 years of ROTC in college, Jerry entered the US Army as a 2nd Lieutenant with a specialty in air defense. During his Army career, he served in Italy, Vietnam, Turkey, South Korea, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and was stationed many years at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX.

Upon retiring from the US Army as a Lieutenant Colonel, Jerry had a second career with the Raytheon Corporation, including five years living in Germany. Jerry was a major contributor in developing the training program for the Patriot Defense Missile System.

​Jerry and Dosie spent part of their retirement years RVing with the Avion Travelcade Club, spending five years in leadership roles, camping in 47 states and Canada. They also enjoyed cruises through various places in Europe and the Caribbean. Jerry loved to sing and enjoyed participating in church choirs and group choruses.

​Jerry was predeceased by his parents, D. Kelley Drum and Katherine Smith Drum, and daughter, Linda Carol Drum.

​Surviving are his wife, Dorothy (Dosie) Holt Drum; daughter, Karyn Cecile Drum of Tucumcari, NM; sons, David Jerry Drum, Jr (Hilda) of Athens, GA and Kenneth Houston Drum (Nuria) of Apple Valley, CA; grandchildren, Houston Drum (Sally), Maxx Drum, Forest Pivirotto, Dayna McGrath (Daniel), Sage Pivirotto, Mesa Pivirotto, Rihanna Drum, Katherine Drum, Austin Drum; great grandchild, Ezra Drum; sister, Nancy Burge Clark of Weaverville; brother, Austin Drum (Ruth) of Cary; and niece, Kathy Gerhardt of Black Mountain.

As funeral attendance is limited due to COVID-19 mandates, please join the family by live stream at https://www.facebook.com/BrownWynneCary/

or https://zoom.us/j/2032981617 on Saturday, April 18, 2020 at 1:30pm for the funeral service.

(copy and past one of the above URLs into your address bar to join at the time of the live stream or scroll down on this page under donations where there is a hyperlink you can click on to join at the time of the live stream)

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the USO in honor of LTC D. Jerry Drum (retired).