Known to everybody as Barney Melvin G. Drapich, known to everybody as Barney, 84, Ava, passed away Sunday, July 2, 2006, at his home in Ava. He was born June 16, 1922, at Holms, Calif., to Samuel and Dolly Drapich.
He attended public school as a youth and was baptized in the Catholic faith. Barney has always been a hard worker starting in his early teens setting pins at the local bowling alley. He joined the Navy during World War II as a mechanic. After the war Barney returned to Eureka, a small timber and fishing community in northern California, and worked in a barrel factory, and then in the lumber industry as a forklift operator for over 30 years before coming to Ava.
On Sept. 4, 1960, he married Ruth E. Schuenemann in Carson City, Nev. He moved to Ava with his wife, Ruth, over 26 years ago from Eureka, Calif.
Melvin was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth E.; his parents, Samuel Drapich and Dolly Adams; his brother, Clarence Drapich; and his stepfather, Lewis Adams.
He is survived by two sons, Bob State, of Ava, and James State and wife, Laurine, of Morgan Hills, Calif.; a daughter, Robin Newby and her husband, Glenn, of Eureka, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Corinne State Morrison, Destry Girard, Dr. Caton State, Sylus Girard, Dillon State, Ben Drapich Newby and Weston State; and 10 great-grandchildren. Also surviving Barney are two brothers, Lewis Adams and Sam Drapich, and one sister, Deloris Bastain, all living in California; other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 6, at Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Oren Alcorn officiating. Burial was in the Ava Cemetery with full military honors.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Ava VFW.
