The Rev. Canon Charles L. Draper, S.S.C.

The Rev. Canon Charles L. Draper, S.S.C. of Springfield, died at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 27, 2004 St. John’s Hospice in Springfield. Charles was born April 18, 1927 in Old Town, ME the son of Dr. John William and Lulu Clay Draper. He married Jean Thomas February 16, 1954 in St. Albans, WV. He received bachelors and masters degrees in history from the University of West Virginia. He completed his Masters of Sacred Theology degree at General Theological Seminary in New York, NY. He was ordained to Deaconate June 27, 1954 and ordained a Priest January 16, 1955. He served in several congregations in dioceses of West Virginia and Illinois. He was vicar of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Macomb from 1963-1986, assisting priest at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul from 1986-1993, retiring in 1993. He assisted at Trinity Church in Jacksonville from 1993-1995. In 1993, he was named an honorary canon of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Springfield. He was a member of the Society of the Holy Cross. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during WWII. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, John. He is survived by his wife: Jean of Springfield; two sons: Daniel (wife, Yvonne) Draper of Ft. Collins, CO and John (wife, Kay) Draper of Swarthmore, PA; four daughters: Sarah (husband, Jim) Mayes of Springfield, Mary (husband, Constantine Poulos) of Redding, CT, Dorothy Draper of Manhattan, NY and Carlotta (husband, John) Williams of Epsom, Surrey, England; four grandchildren; one brother; Daniel (wife, Marcia) Draper of Martha’s Vineyard, MA and several nieces and nephews. Friends may call at Cathedral Church of St. Paul from 5-8:00 p.m. Sunday, February 1, 2004. Pontifical Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 2, 2004 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul with the Right Rev. Peter Beckwith, Bishop of Springfield, celebrant. Burial will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church, 701 Hampshire St., Quincy, IL 62301 or St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1218 E. South Grand Ave., Springfield, IL 62703. The family of The Rev. Canon Charles Draper, S.S.C. is being served by Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home 900 S. 6th St., Springfield.