Melvin Edward Drane Jr.

His life achievements include joining the Florida National Guard while he was still in high school. He attended and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School, class of 1940. While there he led the Generals as their quarterback to a state football championship in the fall of 1938 and the city championship in 1939. He played semi-pro baseball after graduation and then went to work in the warehouse of Kraft Foods. At the beginning of World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, hoping to be a pilot. He was ordered to become a celestial navigator due to a shortage of men with the math acumen required for the position. He flew fifty missions on B-25 bombers in the Pacific theater of war. His war record included the battle of Leyte Gulf and returning to the Philippines with General MacArthur’s group. After the war he came home to Jacksonville and went back to work for Kraft Foods in the warehouse. Employed by the corporation for forty-two years, he ultimately attained the position of Vice-President of International Operations.

When he retired he returned to Jacksonville and moved to Deerwood where he spent his days playing golf until his age and health no longer allowed him to play.

He was married to Katherine Baxter of Jacksonville, in 1940. They had a son. After the war, the young couple divorced. In 1948, Mr. Drane married Barbara Holland of Miami. The couple had a daughter. They were married for 55 years until Barbara Drane passed away in 2003.

Mr. Drane is survived by his son, retired Air Force Lt. Colonel, Melvin (Ed) Edward Drane, III, daughter-in-law, Peggy Parnell Drane, daughter, author Sharon Drane, granddaughter Major Tracy Drane Provenzano of the Florida Air National Guard, great-grandsons Paul Edward Provenzano of Jacksonville, and Christopher Provenzano, Master of Arms with the U.S. Navy, currently serving overseas.

A visitation will be held on Friday December 18, 2015 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Hardage-Giddens Greenlawn Funeral Home, 4300 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32207.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 12:00 pm in the St. Nicholas room at Hardage-Giddens Greenlawn Funeral Home.

Interment will be in Greenlawn Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Hardage-Giddens Greenlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery.

Please offer condolences at www.greenlawnjacksonville.com