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John David Latimer
DALLAS — John David Latimer, born on Sept. 7, 1918, at Bogata (Mauldin School House), died Thursday, March 12, at home in Richardson.
A memorial service is scheduled Wednesday, March 18, at Mountain Creek Church, 5850 Eagle Ford Drive, Dallas, TX. Family and friends are invited to gather at the church beginning at 12:30 p.m. and the service begins at 1:30 p.m. A commitment ceremony with full military honors follows the service at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX.
He was the epitome of The Greatest Generation, having served his country proudly as an officer and World War II fighter pilot in the United States Navy. He flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat in the Pacific off the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise and USS Hornet in 1943 and 1944. He graduated from Paris Junior College and Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. He worked as an industrial engineer in the electronics industry and concluded his working years on the faculty and staff at Pearce High School in Richardson.
He married Mary Virginia Rutherford, also a Navy officer, in 1946. She passed away in 1995, just two weeks short of their 50th wedding anniversary.
He is survived by his daughter, Linda Latimer Kelly, and her husband, Robert E. Kelly Jr., of Houston; son, Jeff Latimer, of Richardson; and grandchildren Colleen Kelly Heartsill and her husband, Lucas G. Heartsill, Susan C. Kelly, Laurel V. Latimer, and Brian David Curran.
The last years of John’s life were blessed with the renewal of his relationship with his pre-World War II Paris Junior College sweetheart, Clara Mae Storey Nance, of Paris, Texas. Whether you knew him as John David, Dad, Papoo, Lattie or Uncle John, we will all remember the lively twinkle in his eyes, his folksy sayings and his enjoyment of storytelling, which was usually accompanied by eruptions of laughter.
He adored his grandchildren and loved riding horseback and dancing. Family and friends enjoyed the biscuits & gravy, chicken & noodles, carrot cakes and other delicious treats that regularly came from his kitchen. Not many folks request a live band for a 90th birthday party so that everyone can dance. Keep on dancing, John David!
If desired, memorials may be made to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, 302 Ridgefield Court, Asheville, N.C. 28806, PBTF.org; the Indian Nations Ministries Youth Camp HC68, Box 106, Nashoba, Okla. 74558 or the charity of your choice.
Published March 17, 2009
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