OBITUARY: Walter Wayne Droke

Rev. Walter Wayne Droke, age 70, passed peacefully from this life on Saturday, March 29, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his father Wayne Lafoy Droke of Hohenwald; his devoted children: Rebekah (Jason) Sykes of Bartlett, TN, Jennifer Hensley of Hohenwald, TN, and Eric (Liz) Droke of Spring Hill, TN; his grandchildren: Jacob, Jorja, and Jessie Sykes; Judah, Cherish, and Zeke Hensley; Abigail, Lex, and Jasper Droke; and his brother James (Doreen) Droke of Byhalia, MS. He is preceded in death by his mother Bobbie Jean Chandler Droke and his lovely bride Shirley Ann Pierce Droke.

Rev. Walter Droke lived a life dedicated to the service of Jesus Christ and the furtherance of His kingdom here on the earth. Most notably, he served as the pastor of The Sanctuary First United Pentecostal Church for a total of 21 years before being promoted to bishop status in his later years. Rev. Droke began his ministry at a young age by serving as a pianist and worship leader at Calvary United Pentecostal Church in Jackson, TN. In 1982, his pastor, Rev. Denzil Richardson, told him that he was planning a youth revival and that Walter would be one of the speakers. This was a great surprise to Walter, who never imagined himself as a preacher. Although this was the first time he preached, it was immediately apparent to him and everyone who heard him that Rev. Richardson’s wisdom in recognizing the call of God on Walter’s life was valid.

Rev. Droke would go on to pastor the United Pentecostal Church of Manchester, TN, from 1986 to 1993 and also served as a missionary and Bible School teacher in Kenya from 1999 to 2006. During his more than 30 years as a licensed UPCI minister in Tennessee, Rev. Droke served on the Tennessee District Youth committee, functioned as the Tennessee District Home Missions Secretary, and led as the Tennessee District Foreign Missions Director.

Walter Droke was a man of many talents and interests. He taught himself to play the piano by ear, and in high school, he dreamed of becoming a world-famous first baseman. His mother, unbeknownst to Walter, prayed against that career path for him, knowing even before he did that God had a special call on his life. Walter remained a loyal fan of St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball for his lifetime and could often be found wearing his red baseball cap and adjusting the radio to bring in the distant, static-filled sounds of a Cardinal’s baseball game. Walter loved music of all types but especially Southern Gospel quartet groups, the Beatles, and bluegrass guitar and banjo picking. He had an artistic eye for drawing and photography, but his greatest talent was putting thoughts and words together in a simple, yet profound, way to express eternal truths from Holy Scripture.

Walter was passionate about the Word of God and loved reading, studying, and talking about it. He knew the Bible to be the source of life for eternity as well as for everyday living and trusted it to change the hearts of anyone who would hear and believe. In all of his accomplishments and pursuits, he is most remembered for his love and devotion to his beloved wife, Shirley, their three children, and nine grandchildren. Known as Grampy to them, he loved to play baseball in the front yard, “fly” the grandchildren by holding them with his strong arm up in the air, playing games around the dinner table, and laughing at the plethora of joyous family memories.

He was the patriarch to a beautiful, God-fearing family and passed down an untarnished legacy of love and devotion to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.

A memorial service to honor Walter’s life and ministry will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at The Sanctuary UPC of Hohenwald. Visiting with family will begin at 11:00 AM, with the service following at 2:00 PM. McDonald Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Droke family.