David “Dave” Lee Drummond

Dave Drummond passed away on Friday, June 15^th, peacefully at home in Lawrence, Kansas with his wife Rheva by his side. Dave was born on August 20^th, 1948, in St. Joseph, Missouri to James Bagwell Drummond and Frances May Shelton.

Dave graduated from Central High School in St. Joseph, Missouri and attended St. Joseph Lutheran College and Missouri Western State University before joining the US Army, proudly serving in Vietnam from 1968-1969. He was honorably discharged from the Army and spent one year in the Army National Guard and three years in the Missouri Air National Guard. Dave worked for the St. Joseph Fire Department before joining the US Coast Guard Administrative Offices, where he retired in 2008.

2008 turned out to be a wonderful year for Dave. He celebrated both his retirement and marriage to the love of his life, Rheva Victor. They were married September 17^th, 2008 in Lawrence, Kansas.

Rheva and Dave traveled the world together. Some of their favorite trips were to China, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. In China, Dave was thrilled to be able to climb the Great Wall. While the scenery and pandas were incredible, he and Rheva found the food to be terrible.  Determined to stay and enjoy the trip, they stuffed their pockets with Babybele cheese from the buffets each morning, which they subsisted on for the duration of the trip.

In Europe, they traveled from London to Germany. On every trip, Dave and Rheva left no cuisine untouched, and no unique cocktail unsampled. India was one of their favorite trips, where they got to meet some of the happiest and content people in the world and see the Taj Mahal.

They didn’t just enjoy international travel. Together, they managed to travel to all 50 states. Alaska was their 50^th state, which they celebrated by seeing a glacier in Hyder, Alaska. The trip also included a stay at a brothel-turned-motel, whose history they discovered AFTER they had booked the trip to the tiny glacier town.

New York City was Dave and Rheva’s “place.” They went every single year until the pandemic, staying at the same hotel where they were well known and loved by all the staff.

Dave was extremely active in community organizations, including the International Association of Firefighters, Disabled American Veterans, and the American Legion. In addition, Dave was well known and loved by his friends at the Lawrence Eagles Lodge and the VFW, where he was an avid volunteer. He was known as the Pink Panther for his pool playing and always had his same spot at the bar, cigarette in hand.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Frances Drummond.

A memorial graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 26, 2023 at Leavenworth National Cemetery. A celebration of life will follow the cemetery service at the VFW in Lawrence on Monday at approx. 12:15 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Dave’s name to: VFW #852, 1801 Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044 or the American Legion, 7500 W. 75^th Street Overland Park, KS 66204.

Dave is survived by his wife, Rheva A. Drummond; daughter, Kelly Siewert of Temperence, Michigan; sister, Janet Easter of St. Joseph, Missouri; twin nephews, Danny and Davey Easter and three grandchildren: Natalie, Lucas and Joey.