Drew Conrad Salling

Drew Conrad Salling,76, of Roswell, Georgia; formerly of Winchester, Massachusetts,loving father of Brian Conrad Salling of

Canton, GA and Mark Andrew Salling of Kennesaw, GA. Former husband of Miquelina (Micki) Malone of

Mercer, WI and Panama City Beach, FL. Drew died peacefully on November 18, 2024 from health

complications at 76 years old. Funeral services will be private.

Drew was the son of Raymond Conrad and Patricia Drew Salling of Winchester, MA. He was born in

Baltimore, Maryland where Ray started his first job after serving in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant J.G. in

World War II. The family lived briefly in Baltimore before moving to Poughkeepsie, NY where Drew’s

sister, Pamela Salling Coady, was born three years later. His youngest sister, Diana (Didi) Salling

LaRochelle was born in Boston, and Ray and Patty bought the family home in Winchester, MA until

1976.

Drew’s maternal grandparents, Arno and Frances Drew, lived in West Roxbury, MA. Drew’s paternal

grandparents resided in San Leandro, CA. Frederik and Hilda Salling emigrated to the United States in

the early 1900s from Stockholm, Sweden. Drew was very proud of his Swedish heritage.

Drew started Kindergarten at the George Washington Elementary School in Winchester, MA at age 5,

and met his lifelong, best friend, Jack Stone. They were in the same classroom, one seat apart, through

the sixth grade. They participated in many activities together: Boy Scouts, fishing, Boy Scouts Camp in

the summer and other camping excursions. During their junior high and high school days, they expanded

their friends’ group to include Billy Brusseau, Paul Staniewicz and John Buzzotta. They did everything

together like the 5 amigos.

Drew was a talented musician, who studied piano at first, then the sousaphone with the Winchester

High School Band. After a Post Graduate year at Bridgton Academy in Bridgton, Maine, he took his

musical ability to Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1971, and was a member of the

Gettysburg College Marching Band. He loved the notoriety of playing the sousaphone; it was not an

instrument that many kids signed up for!

Drew spent the majority of his work life in sales for a variety of companies, but he worked initially for

Otis Elevators and then Westinghouse-Elevator Division in Gettysburg. He once went to the office in

Milburn, NJ where he met his future wife, Micki Merces. They married in 1973 and both worked for

Westinghouse until they were transferred to Roswell, GA in 1975, where Drew remained for the rest of

his life. They welcomed their sons, Brian in 1977 and Mark in 1979.

Drew’s most memorable job was at the Quest Travel Group in Roswell. This company provided group

travel to pastors from all over the country to take parishioners to religious and meaningful locations

such as the Holy Land and the Steps of Paul/Greece Journeys. Drew was sometimes able to serve as

their tour guide as well.

Drew is survived by two sons: Brian and his daughters, Juliette and Lila, and his son, Conrad, of Canton,

GA; and Mark and Shelley and their sons, Parker and Preston of Kennesaw, GA. He loved seeing them

and visiting with them on holidays and watching them grow. He was also very proud of his sons’

accomplishments.

Drew loved all things New England, especially Kennebunkport, Maine (formerly the family summer

home), and all that it offered: lobster and steamers, fried clams, lobster buoys, the smell of salt air and

the deep blue color of the Atlantic Ocean. Drew travelled north as often as possible to enjoy these

things once again and refresh his soul.

Didi LaRochelle is Drew’s sole surviving sibling and she lives with her husband, Bob, in Seabrook, NH.

Drew was a fond uncle to Andrew David LaRochelle of Pompano Beach, FL, and Eric Salling LaRochelle

and Rebekah LaRochelle of North Andover, MA. He was great uncle to Ean and Adam, who first knew

him as “Uncle Dukie.”

For more information, please contact the Canton Funeral Home in Canton, GA online at

https://www.cantonfuneralhome.com/obituaries or by telephone at 770-479-2788.

Please Check back for a completed obituary.