Louise was born in Bristol, VA, on October 28, 1926, to Charles Johnston Harkrader and Louise Moorman Harkrader. She was predeceased by her parents, two brothers, and a sister.
Louise graduated from Virginia High School and received her BA degree from Randolph-Macon Women’s College in Lynchburg, VA, in 1947, where she was an accomplished student and a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. She then studied journalism in graduate school at the University of Georgia. After graduate school she worked in the Alumni Office of Georgia Tech and at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, GA, before returning to Bristol, VA. Louise was a charter member of the Border Guild of Bristol, VA-TN, which became the Junior League of Bristol.
Louise’s father owned the Bristol Herald Courier newspaper and was a two-term Virginia state senator, and as such he had many interesting connections. She often said that meeting President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Oval Office when she was ten years old was her biggest thrill. She also attended President Harry Truman’s Inaugural Ball in 1949, to the envy of her Tri-Delta sorority sisters.
In 1955 Louise married the love of her life, William Edward Latture, of Lexington, VA. They lived in Oneonta, AL, for seven years before moving their family to Greensboro, NC, in 1963.
Louise was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, as well as a beloved friend to many people.
The Latture family joined Christ United Methodist Church in 1964. Louise was actively involved in the church for many years. She also was active in many local organizations, including the Junior League of Greensboro, the Greensboro Opera Companions, the Lecture League, the Historical Book Club of NC, and the Daubers Garden Club. She and her husband, Bill, were named Health Heroes of the Year in 2015 by Planned Parenthood.
Louise and Bill took many memorable trips abroad with Washington & Lee University’s alumni travel program. Also, they treasured spending time at Litchfield Beach, SC.
Louise loved arts and literature. She volunteered as a docent for the Weatherspoon Art Museum. Taking the Theater Train from Greensboro to New York City to see Broadway plays was a favorite adventure. Most of all, Louise was an avid reader and would always have an interesting book to talk about. Her favorite book of all was Look Homeward Angel by Thomas Wolfe.
She is survived by her husband, William Edward Latture; daughter Sarah Rhea Latture (Marvin Veto) and son Richard Garland Latture (Beth Hudson Latture), all of Greensboro; three grandchildren, Allison Helms King (Bobby King) of Marietta, Ga., Jackson Latture Helms of Atlanta, GA, and Camille Anne Latture (Mike Andrews) of Towson, MD; three great-grandchildren, Charles Rupert and Andrew Laurence King, and Rowan Louise Andrews; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service to celebrate Louise’s life will be held on Friday, January 24, at 2 p.m., in the Richardson Room, Well-Spring, 4100 Well-Spring Drive, Greensboro, NC, 27410. The family will receive friends following the service.
The family would like to thank all the staff at Well-Spring Retirement Community for her excellent care, and especially Virginia Steadmon, Louise’s companion.
Memorial contributions may be made to Christ United Methodist Church, 410 N. Holden Road, Greensboro, NC, 27410, or Well-Spring Retirement Community, 4100 Wellspring Drive, Greensboro, NC, 27410, AuthoraCare Collective, 2500 Summit Ave., Greensboro, NC, or to the charity of one’s choice. Online condolences may be offered at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com.
