James Donald Latham

James Latham (1931-2013) James Donald ""Don"" Latham age 82 of Centennial, CO passed away at Littleton Adventist Hospital on Thursday August 29, 2013 after a protracted battle with IPF (Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis). Don was born on March 11, 1931 in Maryville, TN to James Oscar and Ella Anva Latham. Don was the third of six children behind Hellen Rue and George Edward, followed by Margaret Jo, Norma Jean and Kenneth Allen Latham. He met Judy Ann Cunerd in 1964 during his tenure at the GSA (General Services Administration) headquarters in Washington, D.C. and they were married in January, 1966. A graduate of Blount County (Lanier) High School, in 1951, at 19, he joined the United States Air Force, completing his Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX, then serving in Korea and later the Far East Command headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. Upon Honorable Discharge in 1955, Don settled in Washington, D.C to work for the U.S. State Department. Don's government career also included positions with the International Boundary Commission, the White House (Liaison affairs, Johnson Administration), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (E.E.O.C) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Working full time, Don was able to complete his B.S. in Business Administration at American University 1970, and M.A. in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Northern Colorado 1975. Don remained active after retirement from government service selling real estate, working with the University of Denver, Institute of Gerontology, Senior Mediation Program, and serving as Board Member with U.S. Fed. Credit Union. Don was an avid reader, traveler and active member of American University's Alumni Association. Amongst the countless charities and organizations to which he contributed, Don was a proud member of The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and the National Rifle Association of America. Don is survived by his wife Judy, sons Sean Patrick, Scott Michael, James Todd and wife Caroline, and daughter Andrea Elizabeth and husband Christian Wright of Centennial, CO, his grandson Ian Thomas Nichols Wright, granddaughters Calliope Josephine Latham and Natalie Ondine Wright, his sisters Helen Gatlin, ""Jo"" Harrison and brother Kenneth. Services will be held on Wednesday September 4, 2013 beginning at 9 AM at Horan & McConaty, 5303 E County Line Rd, Centennial, CO 80122: Ph. 303-221-0030 A military burial will be held at Littleton Cemetery in Littleton, CO, immediately following the service. A Reception will immediately follow the burial at the Latham Family home in Centennial, CO. Memorial contributions may be sent to National Jewish Health or the American Lung Association of Colorado. Please share your memories of Don and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook below.