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Date published: 5/13/2009
Helen F. Latch
Helen F. Latch, 97, died Monday, May 11, 2009, at Lake of the Woods. Helen was born in Camden, N.J. and lived her early years over her father's shoe store. She was baptized as a young person at North Baptist Church in Camden. The family moved to Collingswood, N.J., during her last year of elementary school. She graduated from Collingswood High School in 1929. She attended the New Jersey College for Women and received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Rutgers College in 1933. She taught chemistry and physics in Andes, N.Y., where she also coached the women's basketball team and served as the librarian. She was a substitute teacher and taught kindergarten in New Jersey. She received her professional librarian's certificate from the state of New Jersey and was the library director for Merchantville, N.J. school and public library for 17 years from 1953 until 1970. She retired to Stuart, Fla., and then moved in 1996 to the Colonnades in Charlottesville, and in 2005 to Chancellor's Village in Fredericksburg. Helen was a life member of the American Association of University Women, having joined in 1935. She also was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Florida, where she became a Stephen minister in 1994 at the age of 83. She joined Lake of the Woods Church on her 90th birthday and was an active member of the church and the Lake of the Woods Women's Guild until shortly before her death. Helen enjoyed swimming and was on her high school swim and dive team. She especially liked her swim in the lake last summer at the age of 97. She took years of dance lessons and enjoyed dancing all her life. She also played bridge with many friends. She especially enjoyed 25 years with her husband, Karl "Bud" Latch as they enjoyed boating, traveling and cruising in retirement. She will be remembered by all for her caring ways and beautiful smile. Helen is survived by her daughters, Phyllis Franklin of Pompano Beach, Fla., and Barbara Larson and her husband, Victor, of Lake of the Woods; six grandchildren: Valerie Penn and her husband, Larry; Robert Hosking and his wife, Teresa; Carol Rheaume and her husband, Jeff; Victor Larson and his wife, Peggy; Peggy French and her husband, Steve; and Karl Larson and his wife. Tracy; 12 great-grandchildren: Loren, Naomi, Aaron, Christina, Chase, Robert, Michelle, Sara, Angela, Sophie, Lilly and Charlotte; and two great-great-grandchildren. A celebration of her life will be held at at 11 a.m. Monday, May 18--on her birthday, at Lake of the Woods Church, with Pastor Tom Schafer officiating. The family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to Lake of the Woods Church, 1 Church Lane, Locust Grove, Va. 22508.
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