Beatrice Drake Poling died Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, five days before her 96th birthday. She was born in Somerville, N.J. where she lived much of her life. After being widowed, she sought work leaving the state, and moving to Alexandria, Va. where during World War II, she worked for the American Red Cross at National Headquarters in Washington, DC. She volunteered as a nurse’s aide in Virginia, Georgia, and later New Jersey.

After the war and upon her return to Somerville, she was employed by the Ruberoid Co. in the roofing and siding division as billing supervisor in cost accounting. Later, she was promoted to administrative assistant to the NY City district sales manager. The Ruberoid Co. was purchased by GAF Corporation where she continued to work until her retirement in 1981.

A few years later, she retired to Twin Lakes in Port Salerno (Stuart), Fla. where she lived and volunteered for 30 years until her move to Fallbrook in 2005.

While living in New Jersey, Beatrice was past president of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Halstead Vanderveer Post #430 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She served as Past President of the Ladies Auxiliary of the 15th District VFW N.J. Additionally, she was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Sante Moretti Post #2748, Raritan, N.J., the home of Congressional Medal of Honor winner Marine John Basilone. She was a member of the First Methodist Church, Somerville, N.J., and transferred her membership to the First Methodist Church, Hobe Sound, Fla.

Living in the Stuart, Fla. area, Beatrice volunteered at the Eliot Museum and the House of Refuge, Hutchinson Island, Fla. Living in Twin Lakes, she served as president of the Board of Directors for many years. She served as president of the Welcome Club and Welcome Wagon of Stuart. She was a member of the Historical Society of Martin County, and the Deborah Hospital Foundation Stuart Sunshine Chapter. In her spare time, she was an avid bridge player, and she belonged to the Encore Club and Fallbrook Republican Women’s Club.

Beatrice was preceded in death by her two husbands, Everett N. Drake, Sr. and Floyd A. Poling, and by her brother, Lawrence R. Stenger, of Los Angeles, Calif.

Beatrice is survived by her two children - Everett N. Drake, Jr. of Manhattan Beach, Calif., and her daughter, Clarice M. Drake Bellino of Fallbrook, Calif., and Seaside Park, N.J. Beatrice had five grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service will be held this Saturday, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m. in Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1620 S. Stage Coach Lane, Fallbrook.

Interment will be next spring in Graceland Memorial Park, Kenilworth, N.J. Memorial donations may be made to: The American Red Cross, Ocean County Chapter, 175 Sunset Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08755. Attn: Superstorm Sandy.