Lt. Paul Draper, Usaf, Retired

Lt. Col John Paul Draper, 89, of Topeka, passed away Thursday, August 29, 2022. He was born April 11, 1933 in San Angelo, Texas, the son of Harlon and Ruby (Rouse) Draper. He graduated Farmington High School in 1951 and in 1958 he graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in engineering.

John was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, the U.S. Air Force as active duty and flew for the U.S. Coast Guard. He retired in 1977 as a Lt. Col with Command Pilot Wings (1971) as a civilian. John was a Safety Engineer at Athene Life and Casualty in California. John married Elva Jean (Hummer) August 24 1957. She preceded him in death, as have both his parents and only sibling, Sherry Hopper of Farmington, New Mexico. John is survived by his sister-in-law, Rebecca Mathers, numerous nephews and nieces in Kansas, New Mexico and Texas.

A Funeral Service will be held at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Avenue, Thursday September 8, at 10:00 am Burial will follow at 11:00 am at Topeka Cemetery.