Alva "Duane" Draving
April 25, 1935 ~ June 29, 2026
Born in: Piqua, Ohio
Resided in: Wichita, Kansas
Alva “Duane” Draving, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2026. Duane was born on April 25, 1935, in Piqua, Ohio, to Clarence and Gladys Draving.
Duane graduated from Piqua High School with the Class of 1953 before proudly serving his country in the United States Army. During his two years of service, he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. While serving in the Army, Duane married the love of his life, Glenna Mae Lutes, daughter of Frances and Charles Lutes of Piqua, Ohio.
Following his military service and Glenna’s graduation from nursing school, the couple made their home in Patterson Village Apartments in Dayton. Duane graduated from Sinclair College’s cooperative Electrical Engineering program while working at Systems Research Laboratories. He earned his Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering and continued working at Systems Research Labs for six years before accepting a position with NCR in Dayton.
In 1972, when NCR decentralized it’s operations, Duane’s career brought the family to Wichita, Kansas. Although he often joked that the move would only be temporary—just long enough to become vested in NCR’s retirement plan before returning to Ohio—Wichita ultimately became home. Duane worked as a diagnostic programmer on various NCR computer peripherals before serving as a Customer Support Engineer specializing in disk array and tape storage products. He remained dedicated to his profession throughout his career and retired in 2000 from LSI Logic.
Duane enjoyed traveling, sailing, & music. He was a member of the Midian Shrine and its concert and polka bands, Albert Pike Lodge #303, Ninnescah Yacht Club, West Heights United Methodist Church and the church choir. Duane will be remembered for his quiet dedication to his family, his strong work ethic, his technical expertise and his unwavering commitment to those he loved. He built a life grounded in service, perseverance, and integrity, leaving behind a legacy that lives on through his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Glenna (Lutes) Draving; three children, Lesli (Tom) Kaylor of Wichita, KS, Steven (Cindy Greenlee) Draving of Colorado Springs, CO, Cindy Chowdhury of Apopka, FL; six grandchildren, Stacia Kaylor and Shawn (Ally) Kaylor of Wichita, KS, Emily Draving (Dan Laman) of Louisville, CO, Austin Draving of Mesa, AZ, Nicholas (Rose) Chowdhury of Brandon, FL, Cedric Chowdhury of Kansas City, MO; two great-grandchildren, Bodie and Colson Kaylor; sister, Karen (John) Robinson of Haysville, NC.
Duane is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Belva (Charles) Black of Piqua, OH.
Memorial Service will be 1:00 pm, Saturday, July 25, 2026, at West Heights United Methodist Church. Services will be live streamed through the church.
Memorials have been established with: Shriners Children’s Hospital, c/o Office of Philanthropy, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607; West Heights United Methodist Church, 745 N. Westlink, Wichita, KS 67212; or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita, KS 67202.
Services in care of Downing & Lahey West Mortuary.
Services
Memorial Service: Saturday, July 25, 2026 1:00 pm
West Heights United Methodist Church
745 N. Westlink Ave.
Wichita, KS 67212
316-722-3805
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Charities
The family greatly appreciates donations made to these charities in Alva "Duane" Draving 's name.
Shriners Children's Hospital, c/o Office of Philanthropy
2900 N. Rocky Point Drive
Tampa,
FL
33607
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Duane was a very special man – kind, loving, and deeply cherished by everyone who knew him.
My heart is with Cindy and the entire family during this difficult time.
I am very close to Cindy, and I know how much her father meant to her.
May Duane’s memory be a blessing, and may his light continue to shine through love he gave and the lives he touched.
With love and deepest condolences,
Elior