Joseph "Joe" T. Drake

“Courage, Commitment, and Loyalty”

Joseph T. “Joe” Drake, 64, of Litchfield Twp., PA, was called home by the Lord with his family by his side on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at Arnot Ogden Medical Center following his courageous fight against CNS Lymphoma of the Brain.

He was born on December 27, 1959, in Waverly, NY, the son of the late John B. and Dolores (Kinney) Drake.

Joe was a graduate of Sayre High School, Class of 1977. While in school, he was very active on the Sayre Football and Wrestling teams. He was always glad to share about his Hockey career in Elmira, which always meant visiting the Elbow Room afterwards.

Joe lived and worked on the family dairy farm his entire life with family and most recently was the largest supplier of hay in the area to friends and neighbors’ animals. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Some of his best times were fishing and drinking beer at the lake with his friends. He shared many good times during hunting season with friends on his land and taking hunting trips for Moose and Elk. Joe also enjoyed playing cards with his many friends.

Joe was Fire Chief for the Litchfield Twp. Volunteer Fire Department for over 35 years and was the Chief at the time of his passing. He was instrumental in recruiting young people to join the fire companies, mentoring and always supporting them over the years. He was a member of the Athens Borough Fire Department and the Valley Fireman’s Association. Joe served as Forest Fire Warden and was a part of the Planning Commission for Litchfield Twp. 

Joe is survived by his two daughters; Danielle Drake and Lindsay Drake, brother; Jim Drake, sister; Debbie Drake, sister and brother-in-law; Donna and Don Feusner, brother and sister-in-law; Michael and Joy Drake, brother; David Drake, sister; Denise Drake, aunt; Patty Harsh, several nieces, nephews, and cousins, and his beloved sidekick, his dog Mister. He is also survived by his friend Jessie Smith, and a host of lifetime friends and great neighbors who will always love and miss him.

Friends and family may call on Saturday, November 23, 2024 from 11am – 1pm at the Athens United Methodist Church, 118 South Main Street, Athens, PA. A Celebration of Joe’s Life will follow at the church at 1pm with Chaplain Linda Rogers officiating. The family is being cared for by Lowery-Urban Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Athens, PA.

Memorial donations may be made in Joe’s name to: Litchfield Twp. Volunteer Fire Company, C/O Bill Allen, 271 North MacAfee Road, Sayre, PA 18840 or the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, Golisano Children’s Hospital Oncology Group, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642.

“We trusted our farmer and our fireman to know when it was time to say good-bye. And he did it with grace, dignity, strength, selflessness, and love.”

(For those wishing to sign the E-guestbook or send condolences may do so by visiting www.loweryfuneralhome.com)

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