| Sources |
- [S112] Census, 1930.
Name: J M Latham
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1930
Event Place: District 10, Sevier, Tennessee, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 7
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Son
Birth Year (Estimated): 1923
Birthplace: Tennessee
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Mike Latham Head M 41 Tennessee
Mary Jane Latham Wife F 37 Tennessee
Clarence Latham Son M 20 Tennessee
Lela Latham Daughter F 19 Tennessee
Marion Latham Son M 14 Tennessee
Harris Latham Son M 12 Tennessee
Edna Latham Daughter F 10 Tennessee
J M Latham Son M 7 Tennessee
Ruth Latham Daughter F 5 Tennessee
Marie Latham Daughter F 3 Tennessee
Mary Helen Latham Daughter F 1 Tennessee
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 2 Sep 2004.
Joseph M. Latham
April 08, 1923 - September 02, 2004
Birthplace: Sevier County, TN
Resided In: Whitehouse Ohio USA
Visitation: September 04, 2004
Service: September 04, 2004
Cemetery: Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens
Joseph M. Latham, 81, of Whitehouse, Ohio and a native of Sevierville, Tennessee, died Thursday, September 2, 2004 at Heartland of Browning Nursing Home in Waterville, OH after a long illness. He was born in a family of fourteen brothers and sisters in the Boyd’s Creek Community of Sevierville, Tennessee on April 8, 1923, to the late Rev. Michael and Mary Jane (Hembree) Latham.
He served with distinction in the United States Army during World War II with the 33rd field hospital as a technician fifth grade from 1943-1945 in Anzio and Naples-Foggia, Rome, Italy. He received a good conduct medal, meritorious unit award, EAME TH service medal with four bronze stars, one arrowhead, and a victory medal. Joe had an exceptional business sense and was very successful as an entrepreneur. He loved the grocery business and after an honorable discharge from the Army, he opened several supermarkets including four Latham’s SuperValues in Ohio and Latham’s IGA in both Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, as well as several other business ventures. He was an active member of the Zenobia Shriner Temple, a 32nd Degree Mason, a Board Member of Citizens National Bank, an avid golfer and he loved to travel. Mr. Latham was also a licensed realtor with Colonial Real Estate, Inc. and a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Gatlinburg, TN.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by six brothers and four sisters.
He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years Carolyn; proud father of daughter, Donna J. Koester of Sevierville, TN; sons and daughters-in-law, Den and Allison Latham of South Carolina, Craig and Felicia Latham of Sevierville, TN; Doug and Liz Deacon of Whitehouse, OH; grandchildren: Devin J. Koester and wife Leslie, Adam Latham, Aaron Latham, Melissa Deacon, Christopher (C.J.) Deacon, Karen Preston, Kathy McCoig, Susan Geissberger; and several great-grandchildren including special great-grandson Kent Drake Koester; sisters, Ruth Maughan and Faye Fast of Ohio, Helen Bales and husband Russ of Gatlinburg; sisters-in-law, Blanche Latham, Irene Latham, and Tishia Latham, of Sevierville; several loving nieces and nephews; and special friends Robert and Wanda McEldowney of Ohio.
Memorials may be made to the Hospice Association of Toledo, OH, St. Luke’s Hospital Foundation of Maumee, OH, Sevier County Humane Society, or to the charity of your choice. Joe will be sadly missed by his family and the friends he has made throughout his life’s wondrous journey. The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude and thanks to Joe’s extended family and caregivers at the nursing home, hospital and hospice.
Funeral service 7 PM Saturday in the East Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home in Sevierville. A eulogy will be given by Ralph Chance. Entombment 2 PM Sunday in the Chapel Mausoleum of Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens in Pigeon Forge. Pallbearers will be sons Den, Craig and Doug, grandsons Devin, Adam and Aaron. Military honors provided by American Legion Post #104. The family will receive friends 5-7 PM Saturday at Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com)
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 5 Sep 2004.
Joseph M. Latham may be best known for opening the first supermarket, Latham's IGA, in Pigeon Forge, but the community knew him for his tireless generosity. A native of Sevierville, Latham died Thursday at age 81 at Heartland of Browning Nursing Home in Waterville, Ohio, after a long illness.
His daughter, Donna J. Koester, tells of a time when Latham caught two boys shoplifting in his supermarket. He took the boys to his office and talked to them. He then drove them home, brought the boys and their parents back to the store, and let them fill a buggy full of food for free.
"He would even let people run tabs at his store," said Koester, "which was unusual for the time."
Latham was one of 14 children born and raised in Panther Creek in Sevier County. At 18, he left Tennessee to work at a Firestone plant in Ohio. But because he was too short, he unknowingly began his grocery career at an Ohio A&P grocery store as a stock boy.
Soon after, Latham was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the 33rd Field Hospital as a medic. He served in North Africa and in Italy.
Upon returning to the United States, Latham went back to work for A&P, where he rose through the ranks to manager. His next step was entrepreneurial.
"'The Blue Moon' was a truck stop, basically, and he ventured out on his own," said Koester. "Location, location, location. He did very well."
Latham then built two more stores and bought out two, and he also owned a restaurant until he decided to retire in 1972 and move back to Sevier County.
Latham ran his Pigeon Forge supermarket until the mid 1980s, when he began selling real estate.
What really speaks volumes about him," said Pigeon Forge Mayor and former Latham IGA employee Ralph Chance, "is that he never wanted public recognition of his work with charity.
"He was a good person and read people well," Chance added. "He touch so many lives."
Funeral services will be at 7 p.m. today in the East Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home in Sevierville. A eulogy will be given by Ralph Chance. Entombment will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Chapel Mausoleum of Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens in Pigeon Forge. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville.
Man who opened first Pigeon Forge supermarket dies at 81
|
Search | Advanced Search
1923 - 2004 (81 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
= Link to Google Maps