David E. Draper

Rev. Dr. David E. Draper took his last breath in the late afternoon of Wednesday, October 23, 2024, and his spirit returned to his Creator. In his final days, he was surrounded by family, friends, pastors, and loved ones, who prayed, sang, wept, laughed, and reminisced together.

David was born on February 6, 1949, in Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland, the son of a farming couple. He and Linda Marie Mills were born six days apart in the same town but didn’t meet until attending college at Frostburg State University in Western Maryland. They both studied to become teachers, and Dave came to know Jesus through Linda’s witness. They were married on June 26, 1971, after they graduated. They built their first house on Linda’s family’s farm outside of Sharpsburg near Antietam. They taught in the public school system for several years before following a call to ministry, moving to Ohio so Dave could attend Winebrenner Theological Seminary.

David pastored a rural church in Mt. Victory, Ohio, before becoming a development officer at Winebrenner. Dave and Linda had a stillborn baby in 1977 and their son, Andrew, was born in 1978. They lived in Rawson before moving to Findlay, where they would live for almost forty years. Dave completed a second master’s degree and a PhD at Bowling Green State University before becoming president of Winebrenner Seminary in 1988, serving in that role for 27 years until his retirement in 2015.

During his tenure as president, David oversaw the relocation of Winebrenner to the University of Findlay campus. He and Linda mentored, taught, and loved countless ministers in training, college students, and leaders of churches, non-profits, and businesses. They ministered with people in the midst of brokenness and grief, including many on the margins. A highlight of their later ministry was teaching several cohorts of students at the Marion Correctional Facility. Dr. Draper always encouraged people to keep Jesus at the center and to faithfully proclaim the Word of God. One of his main desires was to finish well, to run the race with perseverance, and to remain faithful to God’s call on his life and to his family. He has now achieved that goal.

In the years after his retirement, Dave and Linda shared time between Findlay and Muncie, where Andrew’s family ministers, eventually moving there full-time. Linda donated a kidney to Dave, granting him the gift of a decade more of life, seeing his grandsons graduate high school and enroll in university. The Drapers are members of Urban Light Church (of God) in Muncie and residents of Westminster Village, forming friendships and ministry relationships in both contexts.

David is survived by his wife of 53 years, Linda Mills Draper, his son Andrew Thomas Draper, his daughter-in-law Leslie Wood Draper, and his grandsons Aidan Draper and Alister Draper. He was preceded in death by his mother, Irene Seylar Draper, his father, James Thomas Draper Jr., his sister Patricia “Trish” Draper Powell, and his brothers-in-law Ronnie Powell and Ronnie Ingram. Dave has multiple living siblings-in-law, including Sharon Mills Ingram, Earl Mills (wife Kim), and Arlene Mills King (husband Bob). David is survived by nine nieces and nephews: Jonathan Mills, Jeffrey Mills, Charlie Mills, Laura Ingram Weddle, Brad Ingram, Rebekah Powell Kenny, Hannah Powell Peterson, Rachel Powell Childs, and Naomi Powell Stamper.

Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at the Winebrenner building, 950 North Main Street Findlay, Ohio 45840, followed by his celebration of life service at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery following the ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to:

Winebrenner Theological Seminary  https://givebutter.com/oH1agu

Urban Light Church  https://www.urbanlightmuncie.com/give

Inspire Academy  https://givebutter.com/inspireacademy

Online condolences may be shared with the family via www.kirkpatrickbehnke.com.

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