Arthur Jeremiah "Jerry" Latham Jr

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Arthur Jeremiah "Jerry" Latham Jr., who would have celebrated his 107th birthday on May 18, 2017, passed peacefully at home on Wednesday, January 11, 2017. He was the beloved husband of Doris (Salisbury) Latham with whom he celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary on November 9, 2016.

Born in Cranston, RI, a son of the late Arthur Jeremiah Latham Sr. and the late Lucy Ruth (Mitchell) Latham, he lived in Warwick since 1940. He was a 1933 graduate of Bates College receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics. Jerry served in the United States Navy during World War II as a Chief Storekeeper aboard the USS New York (BB-34) a battleship that saw heavy action in the Pacific Theatre as it provided gunfire support for the invasion of Iwo Jima and later for the invasion of Okinawa. He was also stationed for several years on Martha's Vineyard, MA when the island airport was a naval facility. He worked as an accounting clerk and later as a gas line inspector employed for over 40 years by the former Providence Gas Company. He retired in 1975 from the Company's Engineering Department.

Jerry was an Elder in the Community of Christ Church, serving as pastor of the Warwick congregation from 1975-1991. For over 20 years, along with other pastors from RI, he served as a volunteer driver for folks who needed transportation to doctor's appointments. For many years he volunteered with the New England Mission Center of the Community of Christ as Camp Registrar and Camp Business Manager. Every summer, he ran a bookstore at the Church Reunions in Onset, MA. As a young man he was a member of Fidelity Chapter of DeMolay International. He and a friend were the founders of DeMolay Alumni, associated with Fidelity Chapter, and he was one of the authors of the organization's various rituals. A 70-year member of the Masonic Fraternity he was raised into the craft at Rhode Lodge #44; became a member of Nathanael Greene Lodge #45 when the two lodges merged and as a result of another merger, he entered the celestial lodge above a member of Harmony Lodge #9 F&AM, Cranston. Politically minded and very conservative in his ideology, Jerry was a member of the John Birch Society.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two children: Nancy Lee Cornish M.M.E. of Warwick and Peter M. Latham D.D.S. (wife, Cynthia) of East Greenwich; four grandchildren: USMC Gunnery Sergeant Stephen James Cornish (wife, Sonya); USAF Major Christopher Samuel Cornish (wife, Rachel); Diana Kinman (husband, Robert) of Warwick and Jeffrey B. Latham of East Greenwich; and six great-grandchildren: Mikayla Lee Cornish, Alexis Grace Cornish, Reagan Marie Cornish, Brayden James Cornish, Asher Samuel Cornish and Micah Faith Cornish. He was predeceased by his brother Stanton M. Latham.

A funeral service was held on Monday, January 16 at 11:00 a.m. at Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home & Crematory, 659 East Greenwich Avenue, West Warwick. Calling hours were Monday from 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. at which time a Masonic Memorial Service will be held. Burial with military honors will be in Highland Memorial Park Cemetery, Johnston.

Donations in his memory made to Community of Christ, 292 West Shore Road, Warwick, RI 02889 would be appreciated. A public memorial service will be held at the Warwick Community of Christ at a future date. Condolences may be offered and remembrances shared online at carpenterjenks.com