Michael Travis Latham

Born May 15, 1948

Died May 18, 2025

Michael, the son of Seymour Eugene Latham and Catherine Marie Kreber Latham, was born at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas, on May 15, 1948. His family moved frequently with Air Force assignments to Alabama, New York, Guam, and finally California, where S E retired from Vandenberg AFB in Lompoc and settled in Fresno in order to begin his academic career at Fresno City College. Michael met his future wife, Clara M. Rohde, while attending Hoover High School in Fresno and playing in the marching band.

Upon marriage in 1968, the couple completed their Bachelor's degrees at Fresno State University and reported to March AFB in Riverside, CA for the first of many assignments throughout their military career in the Air Force. Michael continued to serve at Mather AFB in Sacramento, CA; Vandenberg AFB in Lompoc, CA; F E Warren AFB in Cheyenne, WY; Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, OR; Lajes AFB in the Azores; a NATO assignment in Naples, Italy; Bellows AFB and Hickam AFB in Hawaii; Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City SD; Kunsan AFB in South Korea; and finally Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, TX, where he retired after being awarded, among other honors, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. Michael's favorite assignment was Kunsan AFB where he attended the Summer Olympics in Seoul.

Michael T. (as in Terrific!) Latham loved all of us with his whole heart. He was generous with his time and in his consideration of others. He loved to learn the life stories of strangers. Servers, bartenders, cashiers, clerks – he wanted to get to know everyone. Mike would check in on the progress of their life goals and help them in any way he could. He was well-known for delivering doughnuts to mechanics, plumbers, or anyone else who deserved a little treat, for picking up souvenirs for acquaintances, and for speeding over to give advice and encouragement to anyone who was in need, especially those seeking cancer treatment at MD Anderson, as he had.

Michael loved his family and bragged about his children to anyone who would listen. He knew before Clara did that they were meant for each other, and he treasured her and admired her immensely. He loved watching sports (rooting for Americans in golf, the Olympics, and the World Cup), playing golf and winning tournaments, eating fine foods in sophisticated establishments, learning about history, traveling the world with his beloved Clara, and immersing himself in mushy Hallmark movies every Christmas. Mike was a devoted father, and most importantly, a loving husband. We knew him as

Dad, or Pops. You may have known him as Mike. But we all knew him as a wonderful friend who listened and gave great hugs.

Preceding Michael in death were his parents and his sister, Marina Clark.

Michael is survived by his wife of 56 years, Clara, daughter Kimberley Catherine Rowley, and sons Kevin Michael Latham and Kenton Eugene Latham. He is also survived by two special grandsons, Isaac and Levi Latham, and his cherished dog, Molly.

Services are pending at the San Joaquin National Cemetery in Santa Nella, California.  For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to Base Camp Lindsey, at https://www.mightycause.com/story/Genfund.