James Ralph Lathrop

He was the 6th child of Ralph and Dessa Lathrop. He was baptized at the Congregational Church in Columbus, WI. At the age of 5 the family moved to Seattle, WA. He graduated from Broadway H.S. in Seattle and earned his BA from University of Nebraska, Omaha. He later went on to complete many military schools while in service at the Pentagon and elsewhere. He served in the army during the Vietnam War where he built a school for Vietnamese children and in 2003 he traveled with son James to the site of the school which was still there and persons who remembered him and his service to the community. He was able to serve one last time during Desert Storm. In 2006 he traveled the perimeter of the US on motorcycles with son Nate and dog Sprocket (who was in a sidecar). After more than 30 years in the Army, he was discharged with the rank of Lt. Col. He married Dianna Klineburger, whom he met while going to college in Ellensburg, WA. They were later divorced, and have 2 boys and 2 grandchildren. He is survived by Dianna and his sons Nathaniel and James Russell, 2 grandchildren Sean and Nickolas, all in the Seattle area. He is also survived by sisters Dorothy Amstrup and Esther Lathrop, both of Tucson, AZ. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Trayton and sisters Betty and Mary Lou.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial funds to: Pastor Toby Riddall at the Nile Valley Church, 60 Bedrock Lane, Naches, WA, 98937. Memorial Service will be at 2:00pm June 27th, at the Nile Valley Church.

A gathering and Military honors will be held at the family ranch following the church service. Attendees are invited to bring camping provisions for the extended celebration of Colonel Jim's life.

A military memorial service with the placement of a plaque at his parents' grave site will be held at a later date in Tucson, AZ.