Birth Date: 05/22/1939
Deceased Date: 11/28/2017
William Michael Drake “Wild Bill”, 78, passed away Tuesday evening at the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield surrounded by his loving wife.
Wild Bill was born in Johnston County on May 22, 1939 to the late Ransome Johnson and Eva Mae Cooper Johnson. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy. Following his stint in the service Wild Bill took off to Hollywood where he spent over 30 years and stared in several western movies as well as the television shows Gunsmoke and Bonanza. Wild Bill then returned home where he constructed Shadowhawk Western Town in Brogden. He will be remembered as a man with a big heart that loved people and loved to make them laugh.
A service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Shadowhawk Western Town. The family will receive friends following the service there in the chapel.
Bill is survived by his wife Kristen Lee Drake; brothers, Johnny M. Johnson and wife Nell of Kenly and Wayne Johnson and wife Karen of Lake Royall.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his sister Joyce Ann Sanders.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kenlyfs.com.
