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Robert M. 'Bob' Lathrop Garland, TX QCWA # 24448 |
Robert Melvin Lathrop, age 76 of Garland, TX, passed away on May 9, 2017. He was born on November 28, 1940 in New London, CT to Melvin and Grace (Everett) Lathrop. He graduated from Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, CT in 1959. The following year, in 1960, Robert joined the military, and he served in the U.S. Air Force until 1968. During that time, he married Peggy Gill. They were married on May 5, 1962 in Haines City, FL. Robert was sent to Okinawa, Japan that same year, and they lived there until 1964.
Robert was a resident of Garland for 40 years, and he attended Northlake Baptist Church and Lavon Drive Baptist Church. He worked for the Department of Defense as a Quality Assurance Specialist and was a member of the Amateur Radio Club in Garland. After he retired, Robert had many hobbies to keep himself occupied. He enjoyed flying remote controlled airplanes, and he spent a lot of time repairing computers for friends and family. His rates for computer repairs were quite reasonable at the cost of âonly one shiny quarter.â Robert loved taking his family to Colorado for some quality time. They would go camping, fishing, and biking. His family was the most important thing to him, and he loved each of them dearly. Robert will be sorely missed by his family and friends, but they will always remember him with love, smiles, and laughter.
Robert is survived by his wife of 55 years, Peggy Lathrop; daughter, Carol Peterson; granddaughter, Sophia Peterson; and four brothers and their families, Earl Lathrop, Jabez Lathrop, William Lathrop, and Donald Lathrop. He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin Lathrop and Grace Brown, and one sister, Roberta.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, May 12, 2017 at Charles W. Smith and Sons Chapel in Sachse with Bob Duckworth and Alan Walraven officiating. Inurnment will follow at Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg, FL at a future date.
Previous Calls were KN1GWP in April 1958, K1GWP, W5ROE, W4YTD, W1HLA and back to W5ROE. ARRL Life Member QCWA Member
Back in 1959: Receiver HQ-145-X Xmiter Heathkit DX-20 Driving pair of 807's at 120 watts input ARC-5 Xmitter VFO. Antenna was 780 feet copperclad endfed with 450 ohm open wire. The antenna ran across a stream and was 150 feet high at the center. The apartment lights dimmed when I keyed CW so I had to operate at night.
ARS K1GWP in 1959-1960
1970 The cat thought he had a pretty good fist or should I say Paw.
1965 Dyess AFB The first of a dozen or so Model 19 and Model 15 Teletype machines.