Shirley Louise Drake, 90, of Washington Court House, Ohio passed away on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 12 p.m. surrounded by her daughters at Harmony of Anderson in Cincinnati where she had resided for the past 11 months.
Shirley was born on December 3,1935, at Clarksburg in Ross County, Ohio to Hugh Stemler and Pauline Rhodes Vincent. She was a 1953 graduate of Washington High School and a 1956 graduate of the Mount Carmel School of Nursing. She lived most of her life in New Holland, Washington Court House and Fort Myers, FL.
She was a retired registered nurse.
Shirley had been a member of the Washington Country Club and Herons Glen Golf and Country Club in Fort Myers, FL where she won several women’s club championships.
In 1956, she married Dean Drake who preceded her in death in 2002, and by her son, Charles, in 2001. She was also preceded by her parents; three brothers, Hugh (Sonny) Vincent, Jr., Rodney Vincent and Donald Vincent; a sister-in-law, Connie Vincent; a brother-in-law, Joe Drake and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dr. Dustin and Marilyn Drake Stinson.
She is survived by three daughters, Denise Eldridge and her husband, Paul, of Cincinnati, Betsy Schach and her husband, Mark, of Birmingham, AL and Lynn Anderson of Brentwood, TN. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Bryan (Julie) Schach, Patrick (Beth) Schach, Taylor (Jessica) Schach, Erin Anderson, Adam (Lindsey) Anderson and Caroline (Brendon) Cunningham; 11 great grandchildren with another expected soon; her sister-in-law, Marilyn Fulton Drake and several nieces and nephews.
In accordance with her wishes, cremation was observed.
A private graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family in the New Holland Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the New Holland Methodist Church, c/o Mrs. Nikki Sheets, 154 East Front Street, New Holland, Ohio 43145.
Arrangements were completed by the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.
www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com
My heart and prayers are with you Denise,Betsy and Lynn. There are so many wonderful memories with our families growing up! 💓
I often remember my mother (Marjory Hollis) speaking about her when she worked with her. I can’t recall which nursing home, but mother said she was director of nursing and loved her compassion towards the people in their care. My condolences to your family.