William "Ed" Latham

William Edward “Ed” Latham, 87, Olustee, passed away at his home on Saturday, December 10, 2011. Funeral services with military honors and Masonic rites will be 2:00 PM Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at the Olustee First Baptist Church with Rev. Max Gunn and Roger Allen officiating. Burial will follow in the Olustee Cemetery under the direction of the Kincannon Funeral Home. Ed was born on June 25, 1924 in Cleveland, Arkansas, near Texarkana, to William Jeptha and Mattie Florence (Coach) Latham. Ed was an only child, but had several aunts, uncles and cousins in the Texarkana, Arkansas area. Ed attended school in Texarkana, but enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1939, before he graduated from high school. After completing basic training, Ed soon found himself on a ship, headed to the South Pacific. Ed was on one of the first ships that arrived in Honolulu after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Ed met Helen Lum, the love of his life, while he was stationed in Honolulu. They were married in 1950. Ed continued to serve in the Army for 21 years, achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class (E-7) as a Chief Dental Laboratory Specialist. He received several commendations for his meritorious service. Shortly after retiring from the Army in 1962, Ed and his young family moved to southwest Oklahoma and Ed opened Latham Dental Lab. Ed continued his practice as a dental technician until 2009, serving generations of dentists and their patients in the Altus area. Ed was a member of the Masonic Lodge and was active in the Grand National Horsemen's Association for many years, serving as president of District 151. Ed also enjoyed motorcycles, and car and tractor restoration. Ed obtained his GED, and he received an honorary degree from Olustee High School, where all five of his children graduated, in 2007. Ed was a strong supporter of education, and he established the Olustee Scholarship Fund to help provide opportunities for other students. Ed was preceded in death by his father, Jeptha Latham; his mother, Mattie Tong; and his stepfather, Dan Tong. He is survived by his wife, Helen, of the home; a daughter, Darinda Welch and husband, Bobby; four sons, Duane Latham and wife, Nancy, Darrell Latham and wife, Myrna, Dale Latham and wife, Tricia, and Derrick Latham and wife, Kellie; five grandchildren, Dee Latham and wife, Dana, Devin Welch and wife, Brandi, Dalton Latham, Dakota Latham, and Darbi Latham; and three great-grandchildren, Reed Latham, Cole Latham, and Daylen Latham. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 PM Tuesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome contributions to the Olustee Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 70, Olustee, Oklahoma 73560.