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Philip M. Draper

Philip Malcolm Draper, 88, of Nashua died peacefully on December 20, 2010 at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua following a brief illness.

He was born in Wilton, NH on March 8, 1922 to the late George Guy Draper and Haddie Maud (Washburn) Draper. He was the youngest of five boys. As a young man he served in the United States Army in Europe during World War II. After the war in 1945 he returned home to Wilton to work at Abbott Machine Shop as a machinist. There he met and later married Edith (Crawford) Draper on December 7, 1946.

He was a former Commander of American Legion Bent Burke Post #10 in Wilton. He also worked as a bartender for the American Legion Bent Burke Post #10 for many years. He especially enjoyed umpiring youth baseball games in the Wilton area. He coached youth baseball and basketball programs for many years. He was a former Cub Scout leader and member of the Second Congregational Church of Wilton. He had a passion for sports as his favorite teams were the Boston Braves (now in Atlanta) and the New York Yankees. He was known to coach both of these teams by yelling at the television while they were playing. In 2001, his son Wayne took him to Spring Training in Florida to see the Braves and Yankees play. He was delighted that every game he saw, his team won.

After his first wife Edith died on August 4, 1969, he married Elizabeth (Bailey) Draper on July 5, 1971 and moved to Nashua. He continued to work there until he retired in 1989.

He is predeceased by his beloved wife, Edith (Crawford) Draper and Elizabeth (Bailey) Draper who died on May 21, 2000. He is survived by his son, Floyd W. Draper and his wife Nancy of Bridgton, ME, daughter Ellen A. (Draper) O’Donnell and husband Paul of Milton, MA, and son, Dr. Wayne C. Draper of Nashua, NH. His four step children include Melanie (Bailey) Hankley and her husband, Bill of Kansas, Laurie (Bailey) Lemay and her husband Allen, of Merrimack, NH and Gary Bailey of Weare, NH. His step-daughter, Sherill (Bailey) Dunton of Alaska predeceased him.

He has four grandchildren, Stacey O’Donnell of West Roxbury, MA, Thomas Draper of Andover, MA, Shawn Draper of Quincy, MA, and Stephanie (O’Donnell) Kadis of Holden, MA. He has three great grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements: Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, December 23 from 5:00 to 9:00 PM at the Michaud Funeral Home, 32 Maple Street, Wilton, NH. Friends and families are invited. On Friday, December 24, at 11:00 AM, there will be a funeral service at the Michaud Funeral Home. The service will be followed by a burial at the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Wilton. A luncheon will follow at Michaud Funeral Home where all are invited.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wilton Junior Athletic Association Box 147 Wilton, N.H. 03086.