William Floyd "Bobby" Draffen

William Floyd “Bobby” Draffen, 89, of Latham, Missouri, passed away Monday, March 27, 2017, at the Moniteau Care Nursing Home in California, Missouri.

Mr. Draffen was born November 6th, 1927, in Kansas City, Missouri, a son of William Paul and Carmen McElroy Draffen. On November 3rd, 1953, he married his beloved wife Donna and together they celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary this past year.

He is survived by his wife Donna, of the Moniteau Care Nursing Home, a son, William Lee Draffen, of Tipton, and his wife Tammy, a daughter, Karen Kay Nelson, of Centertown, and her husband, Greg, a daughter, Lori Lynn Moon, of Versailles, a daughter, Debra Jeanne Fulks, of Latham, and her husband Chuck, a daughter, Sandra Jo Draffen, of Corona, California, a sister, Barbara Davidson, of Denver, Colorado. He held a special place in his heart for his 12 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and step grand and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Shirley Freeland, of Kansas City, and a sister, Norma Corn, of Kansas City.

At the age of not yet 16, Mr. Draffen successfully enlisted in the United States Navy. He completed boot camp training and served time at his first active duty assignment before it was discovered he was not yet, by age, eligible for military service. At the time of his 17 birthday, he was allowed to re-enter the Navy, granted time already served, and embarked on a 20 year naval career. In 1964 he retired from the Navy, a World War ll veteran, having attained the rate and rank of Radioman Chief Petty Officer.

In 1967, he began a career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department where he worked for 10 years at the Temple City station in southern California. In 1978, he and his wife, Donna, and other members of his family, to follow, moved to Tipton. There, he would go on to serve 10 years, retiring as a lieutenant, with the Missouri Department of Corrections at the Tipton facility. After retirement, he would later serve as dispatch for the Tipton Police Department and also did a term, or two, as Alderman, for the Tipton City Council.

Mr. Draffen regularly enjoyed driving around the countryside in the Cotton and Round Hill areas. They were, after all, the settings for some of his most favorite, and cherished, boyhood memories. He avidly studied the family genealogy and wherever the family gathered, they looked forward to his strength, his wisdom, and his stories. He was greatly loved and will be missed by many.

A memorial will be held between 5pm and 7pm, Thursday, March 30th, at the Meisenheimer Funeral Home in Tipton. A memorial service will be held at 7pm with the Reverend Bart Larson officiating.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice Compassus.

Online condolences may be submitted at www.meisenheimerfuneralhome.com