Gilbert A. Drake

Gilbert Drake meant so much to so many people. He was a devoted husband and father, a loving friend, a talented businessman and leader, and an extraordinary servant in the body of Christ. He loved the Word of God and was committed to doing the will of God. Over the years, Gilbert had the opportunity to teach young people the truth of God’s word both in Sunday school classes, youth group activities, and devotionals at Goodpasture. In his spiritual life, one could compare Gilbert to Barnabus who was known for his encouragement to the little boy who offered his entire lunch to Jesus in order to feed the multitudes. Gilbert led by example in offering our Lord all that he had. One could not be close to Gilbert for very long without seeing Jesus high and lifted up in his heart. When speaking of Gilbert, the fruits of the spirit were mentioned numerous times by those who had the pleasure of knowing him. His life was characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Gilbert was not a man who liked to be the center of attention. He would rather see others receive the glory. Like our Lord, he was not immune to criticism in his life. Leading a large school is a position in which criticism is a part of the job. Gilbert prayed for his critics and like Jesus, remained focused on his task. There is nothing he would not do to make Goodpasture an outstanding environment for the students it served. Under his leadership, Goodpasture made numerous enhancements and additions including new chemistry and biology labs, new computer lab, new locker rooms, new curriculum framework, and new attractive perimeter fencing with gates. Daily devotionals were added as a part of each day to allow the faculty, staff, and students to pause and give thanks to God. A new grandparent’s day celebration was created to honor our precious grandparents and to allow our students to celebrate their heritage. A new PTO was formed to facilitate closer communication between the parents and faculty. Gilbert was often seen around the Goodpasture campus greeting students, giving hugs, and making everyone with whom he spoke feel special. On one occasion he was seen sweeping and picking up trash while dressed in a suit. When asked about this he responded “it takes everyone to get the job done.”

Gil loved his wife and daughters with all of his heart. His relationship with Janet started in the tenth grade and led to 24 years of marital joy and happiness. His love for Janet was sacrificial and faithful. He was so proud that his daughters Hannah and Leah were both Christians who were doing their best to imitate the life of Jesus. He along with Janet taught the girls through personal example the meaning of hard work, the importance of values, the necessity of showing respect, and the constant need to reach out and help others.

It is hard for those who knew Gil to imagine life without Gilbert Drake. We will miss his humility, his unselfishness, his pleasant smile, his unforgettable laugh and his faithfulness as a friend. He was a man of impeccable character. He was a man one would want his son to emulate and his daughter to marry. We are comforted by the fact that we will always remember the great influence he had on our lives, and we can look forward to the day when we will see him again in the presence of Jesus.