Obituary of Steven Dunlop Lathrop

Stephen Dunlop Lathrop, beloved husband of Rebecca Lathrop of Calgary, passed away suddenly at home on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 at the age of 83 years. Steve was born in Robinson, Illinois on October 29, 1922 where he graduated from High School. After a brief stint at university, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1943 and was posted to Texas for flight training. That same year he married his high school sweetheart, Becky, in Waco, Texas. He eventually rose to the rank of First Lieutenant and trained other pilots to fly B24 and B29 bombers. After WWII he attended Purdue University, graduating in 1948 with a Chemical Engineering degree. He started his career with Phillips Petroleum Co. in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and the family moved several times around the country, with stops in Spokane and Bountiful, Utah. In 1958 he accepted what was meant to be a two-year contract in Canada with Pacific Petroleums Ltd. and the family moved to northeast BC where he managed the refineries in Dawson Creek and Taylor. In 1962, he transferred to Pacific’s head office in Calgary, where he had lived since. Steve worked his way up through the company, eventually retiring in 1983 from Petro-Canada (which purchased Pacific) as a Vice President. He kept busy in retirement, did extensive traveling with his wife Becky, held several positions at Scarboro United Church and took great pleasure in seeing his family of four sons marry, eventually having ten grandchildren and one great grandchild. He loved attending their various sporting and fine arts events. Steve is survived by his loving wife of sixty-two years, Becky; his children, Steve Jr. and Barb and their family, Samantha and Josh; Dave and Linda and their family, Mike (Julie) and Paul (Gina) and great granddaughter Sophia; Jim and Sue and their family Patrick and John; Bill and Patti and their family Amanda, Tom, Jenny and Jacqui. He is also survived by his brother Jim and brother-in-law Lewis McCammon. Steve was predeceased by his parents Ralph and Georgia Lathrop, a brother John and a sister Dorothy. Funeral services will be held at Scarboro United Church (134 Scarboro Avenue S.W.) on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at 4:00 p.m. with the Rev. Judy Chapman, Presider. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made to the charity of your choice or Scarboro United Church, (134 Scarboro Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB T3C 2H1 Telephone 403-244-1161). In living memory of Stephen Lathrop, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.