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Submitted: 9/19/23 • Approved: 9/19/23 • Last Updated: 9/22/23 • R1502248-G0-S3
September 26, 1854 - September 26, 1936
*Obituary
The Benton County Democrat
Thursday, September 10, 1936
DEAN DROKE DIED FRIDAY AT HIS FAYETTEVILLE HOME
Dr. George Wesley Droke, aged 81, dean emeritus of the University of Arkansas, died at his home in Fayetteville at 13:45 a.m. Friday, Sept. 26th, and had resigned in 1929 after having taught in the university for 17 years.
Dr. Droke was the son of George and Diana Etter Droke and was born in Morgan County, Indiana, Sept. 26th, 1854. When only two years old he came to Arkansas with his parents, who settled three miles southeast of Bentonville in what has for many yeas been known as the Droke community.
Benton County’s first public school was opened about 1867 at the Droke schoolhouse on land donated by Mr. Droke’s father. There Dean Droke got his first schooling. In 1871, at the age of 16, he made his last crop on the Droke farm, and that fall taught school. On Feb. 1st, 1873, he entered the high school here in Bentonville, where he continued his studies for five successive terms of five months each. Having had practically all his property wept away during the War Between the States, Mr. Drokes’s father was unable to help him and so the young man undertook the task of completing his education unassisted. One of his teacher and helpers was John T. McGill, older brother of the late Attorney Lon H. McGill of Bentonville. From other he borrowed books and even small sums of money for educational uses, paying sometimes as high as 15 percent interest. In 1876 he became assistant in the Bentonville public school. The next years he attempted a private school at Hindsville, Madison County. He then entered the University of Arkansas as a member of the junior class. The next year he was associated principal of the Shiloh Institute at Springdale In January 1870, he again entered the University of Arkansas, graduating with a B.A. degree on June 10th, 1880.
Following his graduation he was elected an assistant in the University’s preparatory school. Later he taught in Texas, before becoming principal of the Bentonville high school, a position he resigned to again become a member of the University of Arkansas faculty. In the meantime he had attended at John Hopkins, the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago, and had received his master of Arts degrees. His last active teaching was as professor of mathematics, logic, and astronomy in the University of Arkansas. He was a member of the Central Association of Science and Mathematic Teachers and the American Mathematical Society. He was named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of the U of A in 1915. He retired in 1929 on a Carnegie Foundation pension, and the same year the LL. D. degree was bestowed on him by his alma master.
Sister Died Here Recently
Dean Droke’s sister, Mrs. Sallie Britt, died only a few years ago tat the home of her son, Hugh D. Britt, near Bentonville.
Dean Droke was the oldest member of the Central Methodist Church of Fayetteville in point of service, and one of its most loyal members. He joined that church in 1877 and had been a member of its boards of stewards and trustees for many years, serving as chairman of both boards for numerous terms. He was chairman of the board of trustees at the time of his death.
His funeral was held at that church at 3 o’clock Saturday afternoon. Burial was in Fairview Cemetery, Fayetteville.
Dean Droke was married three times, the first time to Miss Josephine Campbell of Washington County in 1870. She died in 1886. He married Miss Inez James of Maysville, August 18, 1887, and she died in April 1931. He was married a third time ot Mrs. Dell Fenner, February 20, 1932.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, George Prentice Droke of San Antonio, Texas, and James Wesley Droke of Houston, Texas, and two daughters, Mrs. J.C. Waugh and Mrs. Mary Droke of Fayetteville.
Contributed on 9/19/23 by judyfrog
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Record #: 1502248