Francis C. Lathrop, Jr. of Westerly and Weekapaug, died at home Sunday at the age of 77 after a 15-month battle with leukemia.
He leaves his wife of almost 54 years, Helen Coy Lathrop, and his five children, Elizabeth (Betsy) L. Baldwin of Arlington, MA, Sallie L. Klemm of Melrose, MA, Arthur H. Lathrop, John H. Lathrop, and Helen (Maggie) L. Anderson, all of Westerly. In addition, he leaves three sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law, fourteen grandchildren, his brother, John C. Lathrop, MD of East Greenwich, and his brother-in-law, Arthur H. Coy of Weekapaug, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Born in Philadelphia, PA, to the late Francis C. Lathrop, Sr. and the late Elizabeth Champlin Lathrop, Mr. Lathrop moved to Westerly with his family at the age of 13 after spending summers in the area with his grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. John Champlin. He attended Westerly High School and Yale University. At Yale he was a member of the US Navy V-12 program during World War II.
After the war, he completed his education at the University of Rhode Island, where he earned a BS in Business Administration. He was a member of the sailing team and also collaborated with several others to start and operate a radio station, WRIU. He later had a regular talk show on WERI. Mr. Lathrop served in the US Navy and retired as a Lieutenant from the Naval Reserves.
Mr. Lathrop was the owner of the Lathrop Insurance Agency, founded in 1939 by his father. His son, John H. Lathrop, has headed the agency since 1989 when Mr. Lathrop retired. Mr. Lathrop’s son-in-law, David B. Anderson, joined the agency in 1989. Mr. Lathrop was active in the Rhode Island Independent Insurance Agents Association and served as President and then State National Director of the organization. He was awarded the prestigious Carlton Fisher Award for outstanding service.
Mr. Lathrop was very active in public and community service for most of his life. He served two terms as Westerly Town Treasurer and was on the town’s Finance Board for many years. One of his greatest accomplishments was the work he did as Chairman of the Westerly Charter Commission, which wrote the town’s current home rule charter in 1968. Mr. Lathrop was a member of the Westerly Ambulance Corps, the Lions Club, the Masons Franklin Lodge, and was on the Troop Committee of the local Boy Scouts’ Troop 3. He was President of the Westerly Historical Society and the Secretary/Treasurer of the Riverbend Cemetery. Mr. Lathrop was on the Finance Committee of the Westerly Public Library at the time of his death. He was an enthusiastic Westerly Chorus 12th Night “Beefeater” for several years. Mr. Lathrop also served on fundraising and other committees for the Women’s Resource Center, the Children’s Friend and Service, the Westerly-Pawcatuck YMCA, and the Westerly Community Fund. Mr. Lathrop served on the vestry at Christ Episcopal Church and was a member of the church’s Investment Committee for the past few years. A summer resident of Weekapaug, he served on the Executive Committee of the Weekapaug Fire District. He was also the Treasurer of the Weekapaug Chapel for many years.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 7, at 12 noon at Christ Church, corner of Broad & Elm Streets, Westerly. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to The Westerly Hospital Foundation, 25 Wells Street, Westerly, RI 02891