Charles Latimer

Charles Ray Latimer was called Home on February 29, 2016. Charlie was the youngest son of James K. Latimer and Rose Lee Stein Latimer. He was born January 2, 1944 in Houston, Texas, and spent his youth in Marlin, Texas. In 1956, the family moved to Houston where his parents built a convenience store in Spring Branch. Even at a young age it was apparent that Charlie would be a man of many talents. He was a gifted singer and musician, notably on the saxophone and piano. He also demonstrated a strong aptitude for science. After winning a high school science fair, he was selected to attend the Summer Science Training Program for Secondary School Students at M.D. Anderson Hospital. He also attended a Summer Science Program at Brown University before graduating from Spring Branch High School in 1962.

Charlie attended The University of Texas at Austin before joining the United States Air Force. During his four years on active duty, he was stationed at Ellington Field and Ramstein Air Force Base in Frankfurt, Germany. He often spoke fondly of his time in Germany. He especially loved the countryside and the friendliness of the German people. Once he left the Air Force, Charlie attended Texas A&M University and graduated with a degree in Industrial Technology in 1974.

After graduation, Charlie worked for several oil and gas manufacturing companies before starting his own computer consulting business. He wrote numerous software packages and enjoyed keeping up with the latest technological advances. After the death of their mother, Charlie and his brother Jim continued to run the family convenience store.

Charlie was an amazing man. He will be remembered for his generosity, loyalty, intelligence, and determination. There wasn’t anything Charlie couldn’t fix or build. He learned to drive at the age of nine, became a pilot at the age of nineteen, worked on race cars at Daytona, beta-tested Microsoft software before the company was a household name, and was a lover of all animals. He was a devoted and loving son, brother and uncle as well as a true friend.

Charlie is survived by a loving family that includes his brother, James K. Latimer, Jr. and wife Darleen and their daughters, Debi Latimer and her children, Cindy Damman and husband Ivo and their children. He is also survived by his sister, Judith Faye Latimer Trousdale and her daughter, Pamela Bailey and husband Gary and their children, as well as many other loving family members and dear friends.

To honor Charlie’s life, a celebration barbecue was held from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 13th at Shadow Oaks Drive In, 10158 Long Point Houston, Texas 77043.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Give Us Paws, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization specializing in service dog training for veterans and civilians suffering from PTSD and other disabilities. www.giveuspaws.org