Mrs. Ethel Trew Draper, 93, of Mount Olive, died Monday, March 26, 2012, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro.

Born Nov. 22, 1918, in High Point, she was an only child, and was reared in Newport News, Va., by her parents, Ernest William Trew and Jenny Virginia Thomas Trew. She graduated from Newport News High School in 1936. She married Howard Dennis Draper Sr. on Oct. 10, 1942, and they enjoyed 63 happy years together until his death in 2005. Of this union, came one son.

Having trained to be a legal secretary, she worked in law firms in Newport News for several years, and in 1949, she entered Atlantic Christian College in Wilson (now known as Barton College), and graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Upon her graduation, she became an elementary school teacher, first at Chapel Elementary School in Johnston County, and then at Spring Lake Elementary School in Spring Lake. She attended East Carolina University in Greenville, earning her Masters of Arts degree in 1955. In 1962, she was appointed as an elementary supervisor in the Cumberland County Schools and was subsequently appointed to be their director of the Title One programs, a position she held until retirement in 1979. Upon retirement, she and Howard spent 24 enjoyable and memorable years in their home on Lake Gaston near Littleton and were members of Littleton United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Draper is survived by her son, the Rev. Dr. H. Dennis Draper Jr. of Mount Olive; two grandsons and their wives, Howard and Kristina Draper of Virginia Beach, Va., and Robert and Tracey Draper of Melbourne, Fla.; two great-grandchildren, Riley and Chandler Draper of Melbourne; and two step-great-grandchildren, Michael and Riley Hassan of Virginia Beach. Also surviving are two special friends, Mary Horne of Fayetteville, and Delores Quintin of Goldsboro. Along with her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Catherine P. “Cathy” Draper, (the daughter she never had).

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church of Mount Olive with Dr. Bruce Taylor officiating. A graveside interment service will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Cedarwood Cemetery in Roanoke Rapids. Friends and family will be received at Tyndall Funeral Home from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. today and at other times at 310 N. Martin St. in Mount Olive.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 420, Mount Olive, NC 28365 would be most appreciated.

Online condolences may be directed to www.tyndallfh.com.

Tyndall Funeral Home of Mount Olive is honored to serve the Draper family.