Deacon William J. Drum, 85, a 47-year resident of Blackwood who served St. Jude Parish since 1988 died March 3.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving from 1942-46 in the U.S. Navy as a corpsman attached to the U.S. Marines in the South Pacific Theater. From 1960-80, he was a Special Agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. After retiring, he went on to work as an internal investigator for Harrah’s Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, 1980-90.
Deacon Drum was a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, Council 12092.
“He was full of life; a man of character and integrity; always willing to take few minutes to share a story or talk with you about many different topics. Three of his favorite topics were his family, his faith, and love of his country,” said his son, Kevin. “One of my dad’s favorite sayings was, ‘Keep smiling, that way nobody knows what your thinking.’ He tried to live by this motto even to the end when he was in pain and suffering.”
Deacon Drum was the beloved husband of 47 years to Dolores Jane Drum (nee Ryan); father of Kevin Drum (Jean) of Westville, Denis Drum (MaryEllen) of Medford, and Eileen Marie Ploski (James) of Blackwood; grandfather of Moira Elizabeth Drum, the late Christopher Michael Drum, Michael Timothy Drum, Katherine Elizabeth Drum, Connor James Ploski, and Evan Michael Ploski; and brother of Marie Glickman (William) of Philadelphia, Rita Patricia Maguire of North Wales, Pa., and Helen Quigley (Thomas) of Philadelphia. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Monday, March 8, at St. Jude Church, Blackwood. Interment took place at New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.
Contributions in Deacon Drum’s memory may be send to the St. Jude/St. Agnes St. Vincent de Paul Society, 701 Little Gloucester Rd., Blackwood, NJ 08012.
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