Thomas E. "Tom" Lathrop

Visitation will be Tuesday 6-8pm April 12, 2016, at Memorial Funeral, Columbia, MO. A Celebration of Life will be at 11am, Wednesday April 13, 2016 at Victory Baptist Church 9401 Interstate 70 Dr., NE, Columbia, MO 65202.

Thomas was preceded in death by his parents Gilbert and Violet Lathrop, infant sister, sister Jennie Lathrop, brothers Harold and Charles Lathrop, his loving daughter Brenda McNabb, and grandson Jerald McNabb.

Tom is survived by his loving wife of Forty years, Betty Lathrop, of the home, five children from their union, Connie Lathrop (Bridget), Sherry Penniston (Phil), Theresa Young (Paul), all of Ottumwa, IA; Teila Lathrop, of Bloomfield, IA, and Sheanna Crane, of Centralia, MO. He also leaves 14 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, siblings Jack Lathrop (Rose); Norman Lathrop (Mary); Teri Morgan, all of Oklahoma, and Tom’s twin brother Robert “Bob” Lathrop (Fairie), of Ottumwa, IA; step-brother, Thomas (Tommy) Lathrop of Ottumwa, IA and half-brother, Gilbert (Gib) Lathrop of Ottumwa, IA. Tom also leaves behind his loving companion, Tippy, his dog.

Tom was a caring and loving husband, father and grandfather, who believed every male should join the US Armed Forces and he did his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, where he served in the US Army Reserves from 1958 to 1963 as a PFC E-3 and earned a Marksmanship Medal. Tom worked at Ralston Purina in Ottumwa, for twenty-six years, and ABBCO Cleaning service for six years at Bass Pro, in Columbia, MO. He loved sitting on the deck, with a cup of coffee, listening to the birds and watching the flag blowing in the wind.

The family request donations to the Victory Baptist Church, and that every person wear BLUE, because it was his favorite color.