James E. Lathrop, Sr.

James E. Lathrop, Sr., 84 of Plainville passed away Wednesday February 7, 2018 at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Claudette Lathrop with whom he shared 59 years of marriage.

 Jim was born April 20, 1933 in New London, a son of the late Austin D. and Marion A. (Wilcox) Lathrop and was a longtime Plainville resident. He was a Master Mechanic at Avon Volkswagen retiring after 35 years of service. Jim proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War in Germany as a SPEC-2 and truck driver. There wasn’t anything that Jim couldn’t fix and he was proud to take care of any projects that came up around his home or to help anyone who needed it. He enjoyed farming, especially raising cattle, goats, chickens and rabbits. He was loved by all and was a father figure to many, but his greatest accomplishment was being a great husband, father and grandfather and making his family the most important thing in his life. Jim was a longtime member of the Plainville United Methodist Church.

Besides his loving wife Claudette, Jim leaves his son Jimmy Lathrop and his wife Debbie of Unionville, his daughter, Susan Lathrop of Bristol, his grandchildren, Jessica and Michael Lathrop, his brother Jonathan Lathrop and his wife Diane of Riverdale, MD and his sister Elizabeth Anderson and her husband Robert of East Lansing, MI. He was predeceased by his sister, Lucile Ames and his brother-in-law, Curtis Ames.

Funeral services in celebration of Jim’s life will be held on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. at the Plainville United Methodist Church 56 Redstone Hill. Burial with military honors will follow in Plainville West Cemetery. Family and friends may gather at the church on Saturday morning from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 12:00 p.m. The Bailey Funeral Home 48 Broad Street in Plainville has care of arrangements. 

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