Robert J. Drain

Jan 23, 1915 - Oct 26, 1960

BROADCASTER, DRAIN, DIES WSBT-TV Official Succumbs at Age of 45. Robert J. Drain, 45, assistant director at WSBT-TV, program The Tribune's television station, died at 5:10 p.m. Wednesday in St. Joseph's Hospital. He had been ill for two years with a heart ailment and was admitted to the hospital Oct. 13.

Drain lived at 2516 Sampson St., with his wife, Patricia, and son, Michael, 16.

Born in South Bend on Jan. 23, 1915, he was graduated from Central High School in January, 1933. He began working for WSBT radio in 1943 as an announcer. He served with the U.S. Army as a radio engineer technician from January, 1944, to November, spending 13, months in the 1945, European Theater. He later served as a captain in the Army reserve.

Sets Up Department: Returning to WSBT, Drain was named program director of the radio station in 1948, and continued in that post with the onset of television. Experienced in most phases of radio and television including engineering, programming, F production, announcing and sales, Drain set up the original structure for the programming television station. In July of this year he became assistant program director, at his own request, because of failing health.

Surviving besides his wife, whom he married here in July, 1938, and his son, are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry W. Drain of South Bend.

Drain was a member of the South Bend Press Club and the Elks Lodge.

Services on Saturday: Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Hickey Funeral Home, 2702 Lincoln Way W., with Rev. Hartford C. Inlow, pastor of First Christian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery. Friends may call after 7 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Active pallbearers will be John Barnthouse, Robert Dunkle, Raymond Georgi, Neal Welch, Arthur O'Neil and Walter Sweitzer. Honorary pallbearers will be Bruce Saunders, Joseph Kelly, Robert M. Hoyt, Roland Kelly, Scott Hagenus, Oliver Parcher, James Wilson, and Wilbur Darch.

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

12/24/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/180466764/robert-jennings-drain