Noank's Richard Latham passes on

The info comes from an article in today's MYSTIC TIMES, available at THEDAY.COM
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Richard Latham of Noank passes on

by Lacy and Ed Johnson

On Sunday, May 2, 2021, we lost our dear friend and retired Fire Chief, Richard Latham, after a long illness. Memorial Services will be held at 10am 6/5/21 at Noank Baptist Church.

Richard was raised in Noank, graduated from Fitch H.S., then worked in production and pipe-fitting at Dow Chemical from 1952 until his retirement. He served over 63 years with the NFD and as Chief for 30 of those years, starting in 1966, along with serving tours as President of Groton Fire Officers and as a Life Member of New London County Fire Chiefs. His retirement party in 1997 as the Noank Chief was one of the largest we've ever attended.

Joan Latham, who passed away January 4, 2019, was married to Richard for almost 67 years and was active in the NBC as a Deacon, President of Ladies Aid Society and Fidelis. Joan served as the housewife and mother of their two children, Mark and Johanna, and helped operate the Brownie, Cub and Boy Scouts where their children participated.

What drew our attention was the love and positive attention that Richard and Joan bestowed on both their children and multiple grandchildren. This was evidenced by their major efforts to attend every possible athletic event that involved these kids.

This spirit hearkens back to the older days of the "Noank Families." Their values are lasting and the basis for hard work and personal achievement. In a world now complicated by politics and technology, their uncomplicated attitudes still give us hope for the future.

And there the almost annual saga of taking kids to Walt Disney Park in Florida. If you ever needed to know about any of the rides, when they were re-built or changed, or the year the monorail broke down, and what airline flights were best, the Lathams were more effective than travel agents.

Joan always claimed the Richard himself was "the biggest kid of all," when it came to going on the thrill rides....most especially the roller coaster with the long tunnel. However, she frequently howled loudly if she caught him climbing on the steep roof of their large Noank house to make repairs, claiming "no sensible man in his eighties should be climbing on a roof."

We will greatly miss Richard Latham, as we already miss Joan very much.