Stephen Drahus, 90, of Plains Township, passed peacefully in the early morning hours on Friday, June 7, 2024, while in the comfort of his home with his loving wife Barbara at his side.

Born in Shanty Town on February 27, 1934, Stephen was a son to the late John and Sophia Yukas Drahus. He attended schools in the Pittston area and was a graduate of West Pittston High School, class of 1952, where Stephen participated on the baseball team as their center fielder Baseball was a live long passion of Stephen. He also played for the Shanty Town baseball team.

In 1956, Stephen joined the United States Army and was station with a tank battalion in Camp Irwin, California. Again, Stephen found his love of baseball and played for the US Army baseball team.

After his honorably discharge from the Army, Stephen returned to the valley where he found employment with Kraft Associates as an upholsterer until the companies closure. He then work for Halls America in Mountain Top as a general laborer. After his retirement, Stephen kept busy working in nature at the Bear Creek Day Camp working in maintenance.

In 1958 at Maryann’s Sweetshop in Wilkes-Barre, Stephen met Miss Barbara Rogish who whistled at Stephen to get his attention. The whistling worked! They became a couple and their love flourished. On November 13, 1965, the couple was married at they moved to Parsons, and later to Plains Township. Together they raised one son Stephen.

Stephen throughout his life enjoyed nature and he was a true outdoorsman. He enjoyed blueberry and mushroom picking; hunting and fishing. Stephen was also a devout Catholic and member of the Saint Maria Goretti Parish, Laflin.

Stephen was preceded in death by his loving parents; brothers John, Nicholas, and Michael, and sister in law Ann Marie Sedon.

Surviving to mourn his passing are his love wife of fifty-eight years, Barbara, at home; son Stephen and his life partner Cynthia Harrison, ; sisters Julie Fate, Bensalem; and Irene Marchak, Kingston; brother in law John Sedon, Plains Twp.; and several nieces and nephews.

For the convenience of the family, services were held privately.

For memorial donations in Stephen’s Memory, may be given to St. Maria Goretti Parish, 42 Redwood Drive, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18702.

Services were in the care of the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc., Plains Twp.