Rheva Drummond Obituary

Rheva Victor Drummond passed away on Wednesday, November 22nd, just a few days shy of her 84th birthday. Rheva was born on November 24th, 1939 in Williamsburg, Kansas to Melvin Bradshaw and Modene Frakes.

Rheva graduated from Highland Park High School in Topeka, Kansas and attended Friends University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management.

Service to community and others was a constant theme throughout Rheva's life, both professionally and personally. She was a trailblazing female executive, working as a leader in several nursing and adult care centers across the state for over two decades before retiring as Administrator of the Eudora Nursing Center in 2007. Rheva failed at few things in life, but retirement was one of them. She started a second career at Walmart, where she worked from 2007-2013, when she successfully retired.

Rheva married the love of her life, David Drummond, on September 27th, 2008 in Lawrence, Kansas.

Rheva and Dave traveled the world together. Some of their favorite trips were to China, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. In China, they were thrilled to be able to climb the Great Wall. While the scenery and pandas were incredible, they found the food to be terrible. Determined to stay and enjoy the trip, they stuffed their pockets with Babybele cheese from the buffets each morning, which they subsisted on for the duration of the trip.

In Europe, they traveled from London to Germany. On every trip, they left no cuisine untouched, and no unique cocktail unsampled. India was one of their favorite trips, where they got to meet some of the happiest and content people in the world and see the Taj Mahal.

They didn't just enjoy international travel. Together, they managed to travel to all 50 states. Alaska was their 50th state, which they celebrated by seeing a glacier in Hyder, Alaska. The trip also included a stay at a brothel-turned-motel, whose history they discovered AFTER they had booked the trip to the tiny glacier town.

New York City was Rheva and Dave's "place." They went every single year until the pandemic, staying at the same hotel where they were well known and loved by all the staff.

Rheva's commitment to serving her community was evident in her active memberships and involvement in numerous community and fraternal organizations. She was a 25 year volunteer with the Kansas Guardianship Program and her memberships to fraternal organizations included the American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary and Eagles Lodge #309, where she became the first female trustee. She gave generously of her time and money to the Eagles Lodge, both in the traditional form and also via the game room. Rheva's family, and friends that became family, will always remember how much she loved being involved in the Lawrence St. Patrick's parade.

She was preceded in death by her son Greg, husband, Dave Drummond, parents, Melvin Bradshaw and Modene Frakes and brother Leroy Bradshaw.

A celebration of life will be held on December 11th at VFW Post 852 from 1-4pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Rheva's name to: Lawrence St. Patrick's Parade, Habitat for Humanity, St. Judes, American Cancer Society or the Willow Domestic Violence Shelter.

Rheva is survived by her brother, Richard Bradshaw, son Phil Victor, granddaughter, Ashley (Eric) Victor Peterson, grandson Brooks Peterson, daughter-in-law Kelly (Jordan) Siewart, grandchildren Natalie, Joey and Lucas and a host of nieces and nephews.