William David Draper

July 25, 1927 - December 21, 2018

Funeral services for William David Draper, 91, of Alto, will be 1:00 p.m., Thursday, December 27, 2018 at the Rusk First Baptist Church under the direction of Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home with Bro. David Fulton and Pastor Jim Goforth officiating. Burial will follow at Old Palestine Cemetery, Alto, Texas. Bill passed to his heavenly home December 21, 2018. He was born July 25, 1927 in Rusk, Texas to the late Fredrick Gilbert and Flora McLeod Draper. He served in the Navy at the end of World War II on the hospital ship the Benevolence. Bill was a “good and faithful servant” who lived out his faith in Christ as a man of integrity and tireless service to his family and community. Among his many community service contributions, he was a member, deacon & chairman of the finance committee of the First Baptist Church, Rusk and a 65-year member of Rusk Lions Club. As an advocate of mental health care in the state, he served in leadership roles in the state MHMR system. Bill retired after 30 years with the Rusk State Hospital. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 66 years Kathryn Martin Draper, son William David Draper Jr., daughter Barbara Lynn Draper, grandson Brian Suttles, and son-in-law Tommy Harrison. He is survived by daughters Patricia Draper Harrison of Bedford, Debra Draper Suttles and husband Kerry of Alto, Grandchildren Collin and Sabrina Harrison of Flower Mound, Leslie Harrison Pollard of Bedford, Luke and Angie Harrison of Hurst, Shaun and Ashley Suttles of Central Heights, Meagan and Chris Cummings of Henderson, Katy and Michael Burbank of Boerne, Amy and Zach Olsen of Nacogdoches, 14 great-grandchildren, and daughter-in-law Meredith Taylor and Jim Tarrant of Bullard. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Collin Harrison, Luke Harrison, Shaun Suttles, Chris Cummings, Michael Burbank, and Zach Olsen.