WARSAW, Indiana (WNDU) – Residents of Warsaw mourn the sudden loss of 16-year-old Drake Price, whose family said he passed away peacefully in his sleep last Friday.

The teenager is remembered for his courageous strength after undergoing several major surgeries since 2017, when doctors discovered a benign tumor on Drake’s brain.

“He would be positive about life, about every day that was given to him,” remarked Det / Sgt. Brad Kellar of the Warsaw Police Department.

Price has captured the hearts of people the world over: the aspiring police officer has become an honorary member of the forces as far as Australia and as close to his home as Warsaw.

“We keep saying he was a light, do we?” He was a light in our community, and that light was shining, ”Kellar said.

After being released from Riley Children’s Hospital in April 2017, Drake boarded a police escort from Indianapolis to Warsaw. Departments from all over the state joined the entourage.

“You could just feel the goodness radiating from this child,” remembers family friend and neighbor Kimm Silveus. “[He] just always seemed really grateful. And, you know, it’s one of those attributes that really grabs people’s attention and makes you admire someone when they just have that gratitude – that abundance of gratitude that surrounds them all the time.

Price’s former teachers at Lincoln Elementary agree that Drake had a big impact on them and his classmates.

“Even when he was just a little first grader, his heart was what made him unique in that he was very caring towards others,” said Gena Kendall, a teacher at Lincoln Elementary.

Rachel Grose taught Drake the school year after her tumor diagnosis.

“It was a word of encouragement every day, come in, check in with me,” Grose said. “He would comment on others if they weren’t having a good day or something, which he was aware he knew was going on.” It was he who was constantly pouring out onto others.

Silveus has set up a GoFundMe to help Drake’s family with funeral costs.

Visits start at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesdays at the Warsaw Community Church, and Drake’s funeral will follow at 10 a.m.

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