Post by Graveyardbride on Sept 15, 2015 8:02:31 GMT -5
This unusual stone at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla, Wash., marks the grave of Sterling Hallard Bright Drake (born November 7, 1945), who has always been somewhat enigmatic. His high school classmates in Walla Walla recall he was always something of a mystery. Drake lived in California and prior to his death, indicated he might have additional symbols and/or verses carved on his perplexing tombstone. The front of the stone reads:
Sterling Hallard Bright Drake
Born 11-7-1945 - Died 2-16-2018
An idealist and a dreamer, he died of loneliness and
a broken heart, searching for a shrine he never found.
Lady Gwinavier
Born 2-28-1997 - Died 7-27-2007
A loyal and faithful friend.
She believed in the dream.
It’s been said that man is the most evolved of
all animals on this planet. Or is he? I know
of no other living creature that perverts
what he knows and destroys what he does not.
Born 11-7-1945 - Died 2-16-2018
An idealist and a dreamer, he died of loneliness and
a broken heart, searching for a shrine he never found.
Lady Gwinavier
Born 2-28-1997 - Died 7-27-2007
A loyal and faithful friend.
She believed in the dream.
It’s been said that man is the most evolved of
all animals on this planet. Or is he? I know
of no other living creature that perverts
what he knows and destroys what he does not.
Rear of stone:
A parting note for those who may pass by.
If you quest for the line between truth
and reality, you’ll find it in the “Hs” under
Honor, in the library of ambivalence.
Sterling Drake
12-25-1998
If you quest for the line between truth
and reality, you’ll find it in the “Hs” under
Honor, in the library of ambivalence.
Sterling Drake
12-25-1998
Top of the stone:
The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.
The choises [sic] you make today will change your life forever.
The choises [sic] you make today will change your life forever.
Update: Sterling Hallard Drake, born in Seattle, died February 16, 2018, in Rancho Cordova, California, at the age of 72. He is survived by Carlene, his loving wife of 36 years; a sister, Janeen Grimes Lathorp; sisters-in-law, Julee Drake and Darlene Kohaya; brothers-in-law, Kenny Lathrop and Donald Kohaya; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Lynn Drake; brother, Michael Drake; and step-brother, Kenny Drake.
A graveside service was held March 2, 2018, at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla, Washington.
Watch the 2012 video.
Sources: Find-a-Grave; IMDb; and The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, February 27, 2018.