Walter H. Drane Dies at 86; Rites Set Wednesday

Funeral services for Walter Hugh Drane, 86, retired Austin College professor and dean, will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Dannel Funeral Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Walter Lazenby of Commerce, assisted by Rev. Arch McD. Tolbert, pastor of First Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Drane, who had lived in Sherman 33 years, died in his sleep Monday night in Savoy. He had been in failing health for several years.
Burial will be in West Hill Cemetery.
After his retirement from teaching at Austin College in 1936, he devoted much of his time to writing, serving for a time as a member of the correspondents staff of the Dallas News, and contributing articles to education and scientific journals.

Published Book
In 1945 he published a book, The American Way, a study of the principles of democracy set against a background of racial ideology.
A son of Dr. Walter Hugh and Frances Spencer Drane, Mr. Drane was born in Batesville, Miss. He was graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1894, and after several years of teaching, received a master's degree from the same university. Later he studied several years, at Harvard University, taking a master's degree in English and a full course in civil Engineering.
From 1901 to 1911, Mr. Drane was a faculty member and dean of the department of engineering at the University of Mississippi. He became head of the mathematics department of Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tenn., in 1911, and held that position until he come to Austin College in 1924.
At AC he was head of the mathematics department and dean of students.

Bible Teacher
He was a life-long member of the Presbyterian Church said for many years taught the women's Bible class at Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Drane is survived by his wife, the former Miss Mary Brannon of Coffeeville, Miss., whom he married 1902; three daughters, Mrs. Max R. Woodward, 1020 Leslie; Mrs. Frank Love of Louisville, Ky., and Mrs. O. W. Mueller of Wharton; one son, Dr. Walter H. Drane of Los Angeles, Calif., and 11 grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be J. Tip Newell, Clifton F. Douglass, Luther Day, Harry Hudgins, Lee Hudgins, E. L. Foshee, Charles Turpin, and Vernon Millican of Savoy.

Mary Louise ("Mamie") Brannon Drane with grandchildren 
Betsy and John Woodward, and Walter Drane IV in the foreground
1936

Sherman Democrat
October 1, 1959

Funeral services for Mrs. Walter Hugh Drane 82, will be held sit 3 p.m. Friday at Dannel Funeral Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Walter Lazenby of Commerce, former pastor of Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. Arch McD. Tolbert, and the Rev. Leon Martin, Sherman ministers.
Burial will be in West Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Drane, widow of an Austin College professor and dean for many years, died Thursday 2:20 a.m. in Savoy. Her home was at 1020 Leslie. She had been ill for seven years.
Mrs. Drane had lived in Sherman since 1924 when her husband joined the Austin College faculty. The former Miss Mary Brannon, she was born in Coffeeville, Miss., a daughter of Wiley Lewis and Sarah Garner Brannon. She was graduated from Southern Academy for Young Ladies at West Point, Miss., and taught English there several years before her marriage to Mr. Drane in 1902. He was then professor of mathematics at the University of Mississippi at Oxford. The family later moved to Lebanon, Tenn., before coming to Texas. Professor Drane died in 1957.
Mrs. Drane was a member of the Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church, a charter member and post president of Austin College Campus Club, and was active in college, church and civic work until she became ill.
Surviving are one son, Dr. Walter Hugh Drane of Los Angeles, Calif., and three daughters, Mrs. William Franklin Love of Louisville, Ky.; Mrs. O. W. Mueller of Donna and Mrs. Max R. Woodward of Sherman, and 11 grand-children.
Pallbearers will be Luther Day, C. F. Douglass, Harry Hudgins, Leon Foshee, Charles Turpin, Clifford Dinsmore, Richard Ringold, all of Sherman, and Vernon Mullican of Savoy