Fred Conner Latham

FRED C. LATHAM, 89 LAKELAND - Fred C. Latham, 89, died January 26, 2014, at home of natural causes. Born July 29, 1924 in the farmland of North Alabama, he was the fourth son of the late Glenn and Fanny Lou Latham. Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Lois Latham of Lakeland; younger brother, Millard Latham and his wife Gay of Reform, Alabama; sister-in-law Velma Latham of Gadsden, Alabama; son Robert Latham and his wife, Denise, of Lakeland; daughter Tracie Carley and her husband, Ed, of Lakeland; and daughter Mary Latham of Gainesville, FL, also four grand-children, four great-grand-children, and many beloved extended relations. He was preceded in death by brothers Durren Latham, J.C. Latham, Robert Latham; and sister-in-law, Peggy Latham; and by a son, Everett Glenn Latham. He served in the Navy as a radar-man on the USS Washington during World War II; then attended Ole Miss University where he met and later married the love of his life. He became a successful business man, starting out with established companies such as Singer, Sears, and Jordan Marsh before settling in Lakeland, FL in 1974 and purchasing the downtown appliance store, Austin & Barnett, to run as a family business. Fred was a Life Member of Metro East Lodge No. 928 of Birmingham, AL and a KCCH member of the Tampa Consistory of Scottish Rite and the Lakeland Scottish Rite Club. He was also a member of the Egypt Temple Shrine and the Lakeland Shrine Club. He was a faithful and faith-filled member of First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland where he served as an Elder and taught Sunday school for both middle school students and adults. True to his farming roots, he operated a small citrus grove in North Lakeland and was a member of the Florida Citrus Growers\' Association. To support his community, he was a member and a past president for the Lakeland Exchange Club and for many years served on the Board of Directors for the Florida Presbyterian Homes of Lakeland. Fred and Lois enjoyed traveling for both business and pleasure, especially cruises with their Ole Miss alumni tour group to visit distant ports of call such as China and Scandinavia. A service of remembrance will be held January 30th 10:30am at First Presbyterian Church, 175 Lake Hollingsworth Dr. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland. Arrangements are being handled through Heath Funeral Home in Lakeland. Service: 01/30/2014 First Presbyterian Church Heath Funeral Chapel Visitation: 01/29/2014 Heath Funeral Chapel