John Rugee Drew

Our father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend John Rugee Drew, 77, passed away on May 3, 2025 in Upland, CA with his three children, son-in-law Clark and granddaughter Katelyn by his side.

John was born March 30, 1948 in Portland, Oregon to Robert and Margret Drew. He was the middle child between two sisters. As a young child, his family moved to northern California. They spend time living in Eureka and later San Jose before settling in Vallejo when he was 9 years old. He graduated from Vallejo High School in 1966. While he was a senior and only 17 years old, John enlisted in the Navy because one of his friends did. He would go onto to serve in the Navy Reserves for 29 years and to become a veteran of the Vietnam War and the Gulf War before retiring at the rank of chief quartermaster (E7).

John met his beloved wife Sunny during a family day aboard the ship he was on. She was visiting her father and decided to “troll for sailors” as well. Of the two sailors she gave her number to, John was the first to call and get the date. Eight dates later he got tired of paying toll bridge fees and proposed. They were married on May 11, 1968. They raised three children together. They spent 53 years of marriage before Sunny passed and this year they got to celebrate it together once again.

During their marriage, they lived in various cities in California: Vallejo, San Diego, Pomona (for 12-13 years), and Rancho Cucamonga (for the past 36-37 years). He worked in retail until Pomona where he found a job in the oil procurement industry as a purchasing manager. The various companies he worked for included Braun, Brown & Root, Jacobs and Parsons. John also spent many years volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America both with the LDS church and with the Old Baldy Council.

John is preceded in death by his parents and his wife Sunny. He is survived by his children Kathryn (Clark) Raile, Richard (Jaimee) Drew, and Sharla (Jason) Drew-Hodges; grandchildren Katelyn and Laura Raile, Baxter and Chelsea Drew; Kingston and Wyatt Oldendorff and Silas Hodges; sisters Virginia “Ginny” (Gene) Buelt and Elizabeth “Tiz” (“Pokey”) Walker; and nieces, nephews, cousins and their families.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 31st, 2025 at Noon at Forest Lawn Covina (21300 Via Verde St). John enjoyed wearing Hawaiian type shirts that were fun. Feel free to join us in honoring him by wearing one in one of these styles: Hawaiian style, something patriotic or representing the military, The Muppets (esp Animal), and rubber ducks.