Milton L. Draper, Jr.

Milton Lowber Draper, Jr. age 92 of New Castle & Newark, Delaware went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, November 9, 2024.

Milt was born in Wilmington, DE in 1932 and grew up in Newark, DE. He was the first son of Milton Sr. and S. Mabelle (nee: Springer). He was a 1950 graduate of Newark High School and a 1955 graduate of Bethany College in Bethany, W. Va.

Milton enjoyed all sports, but especially loved the game of golf; he learned the game from Gibby Young at Newark Country Club, where he caddied and worked in the pro shop back when it was only a nine-hole golf course. While at Bethany College, he started their first golf team in 1952, and consequently earned a letter for it. He played golf for more than 70 years, but never had a hole-in-one. He was a Boy Scout in the Newark Troop 56 and attained the rank of Life Scout with 16 merit badges. While a student at Bethany College, he was the scoutmaster of the local Bethany B.S. Troop. He then continued his involvement with Boy Scouts with his three sons.

In his later years, Milt played a lot of table tennis and contract & duplicate bridge at the Newark Senior Center. He was an active member of many social organizations including: the Brookside Lions Club, Newark Elks Lodge #2281, the Delaware Swedish Colonial Society, Sigma Nu fraternity, NUR Shrine, Jesters Court #164, Masonic Club of Delaware, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Solomon Lodge #36 AF & AM Masonic fraternity (Worshipful Master in 1980, 2006 and 2017), Sons of the American Revolution, and White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church. During the late 1970s he was a deacon and an elder for WCCPC.  He was the chairman of one of the Newark Senior Center’s, major fundraisers for 15 years. He oversaw their monthly Friday night, poker game and for this, they awarded him with the Jefferson award.

He faithfully participated in Solomon Lodge’s Adopt-a-Highway cleanups and Salvation Army bell ringing during the Christmas season each year.

Milt had many occupations during his lifetime. He was a meat cutter at the Newark Frozen Food Center. He sold paper products for Union-Camp Paper Company in NYC, he drove a tractor-trailer hauling raw milk for Parker Dairy in Saginaw, Mich, sold Rain Soft water purification systems in New Castle County, sold home study accounting correspondence courses for Bell & Howell all throughout the entire state of Michigan, he earned a degree from Hamburger University and then managed two separate McDonald’s stores in Saginaw, Mich. he co-founded the successful and long running home improvements business: Spencer Draper Corporation, and finally sold life insurance and mutual funds for AXA in Delaware, before retiring in 2001.

Milton was predeceased by his parents, his older sister, Dorothy, in 1996, and his younger brother, Jim, in 2012.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Donna (Nee: Parker) and their 3 sons: Milton III (Marylou), Darryl (Rebecka), Douglas (Susie), grandchildren: Rebecca (Nick), Colleen, Elizabeth, Jesse (Wendy), Darielle, Haley, Molly and several great grandchildren.

Milton was a US Army veteran, so his interment will be at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Chesapeake City Road in Bear, DE.  A masonic & military funeral service will take place at the cemetery on Monday, November 25 at 11:00 AM sharp.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Solomon Lodge #36 AF & AM, 9 Noble Ct., Newark, DE 19713 or White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church, 15 Polly Drummond Hill Rd., Newark, DE  19711.

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