Remembrance Video for Eugene H. Drabenstot

Family man, railroader, restaurateur, traveler

     Eugene H. Drabenstot, 80, passed away at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at Parkview Medical Center in Fort Wayne.  He was born to Harold and Irene (Hoover) Drabenstot on November 27, 1927 and lived most of his life in Huntington.

     After graduating from Huntington High School in 1946 Gene began working for the Erie Lackawanna Railroad as a tower operator.  He married Peggy Goodrich on January 29, 1949.  Together they raised five children, four of whom still reside with their families in or near Huntington. In 1969, Gene and Peggy bought Nick’s Kitchen, renovating it into a major gathering place in downtown. They decorated the restaurant with numerous pictures of railroad scenes and artifacts and Gene loved to sit and talk with customers about the history of the town and the Erie Lackawana. After 35 years of service, Gene retired from the railroad in 1981 and over the next decade transitioned ownership of Nick’s Kitchen to his daughter Jean Anne.  By 1990 Gene and Peg officially retired from the restaurant business, but unofficially Gene helped son Jimmy and daughter Nancy establish restaurants in their own right: Nick’s Junction and Nick’s Country Cafe.  Gene loved to travel, especially by car or van where he could pack his grandchildren in the seats and amuse them by letting them play on the CB radio. Winters were often spent in Lake Placid, Florida where he and Peggy were very active in their community and church. During many summers they pulled their Airstream trailer cross-country to Vancouver, Washington to visit their daughter Linda.  Crossing the Rockies and Cascades added to the sense of adventure on their trips.

     Survivors include his wife of 58 years; five children, Linda Dawson, Vancouver, Wa., Mark Drabenstot, Ft. Wayne, Nancy Bonebrake and Jean Anne Bailey, Huntington and Jim Drabenstot, Roanoke.  eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; three sisters, Maxine Elick, Florida, Geraldine Smith, Ohio City, Ohio and Sue Ann Ladig, Ft. Wayne.  His parents preceded him in death.

     Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Bailey-Love Funeral Home, Huntington. Funeral services will be held at Bailey-Love Funeral Home at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.  Presiding at the services will be Rev. Kevin Dunlop and Pastor Gene Vickery of the First Church of the Nazarene, Huntington.

     Entombment will take place at the Gardens of Memory in Marion.

     Memorial contributions may be made to First Church of the Nazarene Building Fund in care of Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 West Park Drive, Huntington, IN  46750.

     You may e-mail condolences to the family at:  baileylove@sbcglobal.net

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