David T. Draper
January 5, 1962 - March 29, 2026
David T. Draper, age 64, passed away on March 29, 2026, at his home in Ivins, Utah. He was born on January 5, 1962, in Murray, Utah, to Keith George Draper and Joy Skaggs Draper Robinson.
David spent his early years in Murray until age three, when his family moved to Rancho Cordova, California, and then to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. At age five, he returned to Utah, where he was raised and spent his formative years in Bountiful.
He pursued his education at the University of Utah, earning a degree in accounting in 1990, followed by a master’s degree two years later. David built a long and successful career in finance and banking, working for 29 years at American Express. After retiring, he continued contributing his talents at eBay and Western Governors University.
David loved sports to the point of obsession.Whether playing, watching, or analyzing the game, sports were a constant source of joy in his life. A gifted baseball pitcher, he began playing in Little League and continued through Woods Cross High School, BYU, and UVU. He was also an accomplished golfer who had the opportunity to play at St. Andrews and other renowned courses. He especially cherished teaching his sons how to golf from a young age. One of his oft-repeated pieces of advice—particularly to his wife—was, “Keep your head down, I’ll watch your ball.”
A devoted Green Bay Packers fan, David faithfully planned his days around game time. He and his wife Robin often traveled together to watch games in stadiums across the country, proudly cheering, “Go Pack Go!” That same passion carried over to David’s love for the San Francisco Giants, because truly there is “Nothing Like It” and the Utah Utes, as he and Robin celebrated victories, and made lasting memories together at ballparks and stadiums to cheer on their favorite teams.
Beyond sports, David loved cooking and sharing meals with those he cared about. He was well known for his steak sandwiches, homemade pasta, and barbecued specialties. He also had a deep love of learning and intellectual challenges. He enjoyed games like Jeopardy, crosswords, Wordle, and “Question of the Day,” even keeping detailed spreadsheets to track his progress and researching missed answers with enthusiasm. He was an avid reader, with a special fondness for Stephen King.
David lived a life rooted in simplicity. He found joy in the little things—a hot dog, a good game, a shared laugh—and valued memories over material possessions. He had a natural gift for teaching and rarely missed an opportunity to turn a simple question into a meaningful lesson, always offering guidance with patience and care.
In retirement, David and Robin made their home in Ivins, where he embraced new challenges, including training for the St. George Marathon. He proudly completed one half marathon and two full marathons.
David also had a lifelong love for animals and cared deeply for the many pets he welcomed into his home over the years, treating each as a cherished member of the family.
Though he could sometimes present a tough exterior, those who knew David understood that his love for family and friends ran deep and true.
He leaves behind the love of his life, soulmate and his best friend Robin, his children, Will Draper and Tyrus Draper (Tessa); stepchildren Chris Oliver (Kayla), Nicole Licea (Alex), and Travis Oliver (Jess); grandchildren Alexis Oliver, Owen Oliver, Lux Licea, and Alden Oliver; and siblings Linda Dodds, Michael Alvin Draper, Michael Keith Draper, Judith Harper, and Mary Lou Reitz.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Keith George Draper and Joy Skaggs Draper Robinson, grandparents, niece Sarah Joy and foster brother Ray Billy.
A celebration of David’s life will be held on Thursday, April 30 from 6:00 until 8:00PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah. Guests are encouraged to park and enter on the north side of the building.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Humane Society of Utah in memory of David
In Loving Memory
I still can't believe that just nine months ago I was celebrating my dad and now I am celebrating the life of the man I knew as my second dad. This is hard to believe but I know they are up there playing golf and catching up. He will forever be missed. Robin we are here for you! Love Liz
Very sad to learn of Dave's passing. I haven't seen him in a long time but have fond memories of him hanging out at Eric Johnson's house or seeing him when heading to class at the U. Rest easy Dave. Deepest condolences to his family and friends.
I played a lot of baseball with and against David over several years. He was an excellent player and teammate.
From his Utah Adult Baseball Family, many great times playing with him and against, including the world series trips to AZ. Great competitor, one of the best.
My wife, Ann, and I met Robin and Dave about 10 years ago, when they moved into our new – and as yet unfinished – neighborhood. We had only been there a few months, so it was nice to see another couple in the area. We would often see either Robin or Dave walking their dogs, a pair of feisty black schnauzers, Boston and Jordy. It was easy to see that they all enjoyed being in the area and moving into a new home. Not long afterward, the subdivision developer informed us that it was time to form our HOA – we all probably did a collective groan. As it turned out, it was a positive experience for everyone. In our first meeting, Dave was elected Vice-president, and I the secretary-treasurer. We ended up collaborating on a lot of issues, but more importantly, we became friends. Dave had a lot of insight that provided a path to improve and maintain a very pleasant neighborhood. As time went on, we became better friends and helped each other with the inevitable honey-do’s that often come up in a house and yard. But then one day, the big question came up. I can’t recall who first uttered those fateful words. They went like this: “Do you play golf?”. Everything changed – for the better. I had been playing in a threesome, but decided to ask Dave to join us. Our threesome was looking forward to a fourth member. The 3 of us were (on a good day) barely able to keep from embarrassing ourselves. Then Dave joined the group. None of us knew how good he was. He would hit shots that I could never even dream of. Fortunately for us, Dave was very patient and supportive of the threesome’s (often pitiful) golf game. We played all of the courses in St. George, and Dave was quite encouraging and helpful every time we played. I recall one time, I had a chance to make a par with a 4 foot putt. Dave would say, “Come on, Frank. You can do this!”. Of course, I blew the putt, but he maintained the same positive attitude toward every one of us. A few years later, one of our original golf buddies moved out of state. So we were down to a threesome once again. Not for long. A day came when we were following a single, and after checking with us, Dave asked him if wanted to join us. He did and a new foursome was born. Dave did that two other times in later years. I could see that he always cared about others. There was another incident when we were paired up with a player who through an odd accident cut his hand halfway through the round. None of us had anything to control the bleeding. Dave stopped what he was doing, walked to a residence that was bordering the golf course and got a bandage for his person’s hand. Who does that? Well, Dave did. When Covid hit in 2020, all of the courses in the area shut down. Dave took the initiative to call around, and he found a small course in Beaver Dam, Arizona still open. He made tee times, and we played 9 holes as a foursome once again. We all brought home souvenirs – there were caterpillars everywhere especially on the greens. We had a good laugh as we cleaned the goo off of our shoes and clubs. Dave was bigger than life. And my life is richer for having known him and being his friend. I can still see him walking his dogs across the street. We will miss him very much. Frank & Ann Tsantes
I am so sorry to hear of Dave's passing. I knew him from American Express and we often socialized together. He was a good guy and a great conversationalist and I considered him to be a friend. He will be missed. My condolences to his family.
In Loving Memory
