It is with great sadness that the family of Elton A. Drummond, Jr. announces his passing, on June 24, 2017 in Walnut Creek, CA, at the age of 87. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island on April 20, 1930 to Elton A. Drummond, Sr. and Besse Wiley Drummond. The family moved to Stockbridge in 1938, where Elton attended Stockbridge Plain School and Williams High School. He served in the U.S. Army, 2nd Infantry Division, during the Korean War. On November 27, 1950, disregarding intense hostile fire, PFC Drummond applied aid to their wounded battalion officer and evacuated him and others to safety, while maintaining radio contact with the battalion. He was awarded the Bronze Star for valor. Upon leaving the service, he took over a food distributorship which featured Pepperidge Farm and Thomas' products. He worked long hours, continually expanding his distribution territory. He also returned from Korea to find a new family had moved into the house next door, and in 1953, married "the girl next door," Julia Cardillo. They lived in Stockbridge until 1994, raising four children there, and then moved to Lenox. The joy he took in gardening provided his family, neighbors, and friends with an abundance of fresh produce all summer! Besides gardening and landscaping, he enjoyed hunting with his friends and spending time with his children, and later grandchildren. The Drummonds retired and moved to California where three of their children and all of their grandchildren live. Elton was a quiet, soft-spoken man with a very subtle, dry humor. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Julia Drummond of Walnut Creek, CA;his children: Susan Drummond Clemente and her husband Henry of Madison, CT, Lori Drummond of Laguna Niguel, CA, Dan Drummond and his wife Ann of Walnut Creek, CA, Diane Drummond Sutkowski and her husband Stanley of Cypress, CA; and his grandchildren: Chloe, Camden, and Hannah Sutkowski. The family gratefully acknowledges the excellent skill and services provided by the Veterans Administration of San Diego and Martinez, CA, and the loving and dedicated care of hospice volunteers who were with Elton every step of his final journey. A Memorial Service for Elton Drummond, Jr. will be held Monday, July 17, 2017, at 10 AM at the Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main Street, Lee, MA. Visiting Hours will be held from 9AM until the time of the service. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery in Great Barrington. Those who so desire may make memorial donations in Elton's memory to Hospice of the East Bay, 3470 Buskirk Avenue, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-4316. www.HospiceEastbay.org.

Visitation Details

Monday, July 17th, 2017 9:00am - 10:00am, Kelly Funeral Home

Service Details

Monday, July 17th, 2017 10:00am, Kelly Funeral Home

Interment Details

St. Peter's Cemetery