Misc. Notes
Beverly Lack. Latimer was a native of Paducah, KY and a homemaker. She was a graduate of the University of Miami and member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.
A resident for 50 years in Miami, FL, she also held residences in Amelia Island, FL and Highlands, NC. She was a contributing researcher for forty years to the program "Changed Lives" presented by Ben Haden of Chattanooga, TN. She was active in the Junior League of Miami, a member of the Riviera Country Club of Coral Gables, FL, the Highlands Country Club and the Wild Cats Cliff Country Club in Highlands, NC and also a member of the Piedmont Driving Club of Atlanta.
She was preceded in death by husband, William Carroll Latimer and daughter, Cary Robinson. Survivors include: One Daughter and Son-in-Law: Gena and Bobby Smith of Swainsboro, GA; One Son and Daughter-in-Law: William Carroll, III and Brenda Latimer of Holden, MA; 7 Grandchildren, 7 Great-Grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Spouses
Birth Date16 Dec 1909
Birth PlaceAtlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
OccupationAirline Pilot
Death Date24 Mar 2003 Age: 93
Death PlaceFernandina Beach, Nassau County, Florida
FlagsHistorical, Latimer Lineage, Military, World War II
Misc. Notes
Obituary:
“Age 93, Fernandina Beach, FL and Highlands, NC, husband of Beverly Lack Latimer for 61 years, passed away at his residence on Amelia Island Plantation where he lived since 1984 when he relocated from Key Biscayne, FL. A native of Atlanta, GA, he was the son of William Carroll Latimer, Sr. and Frances Wallace Latimer.
Mr. Latimer was a graduate of Culver Military Academy, the University of Virginia, and the University of Georgia Law School. He was a member of Chi Phi Fraternity. He served his Country in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II and served in the North Atlantic-European Theater. He was the 1st Squadron Commander in the Army's Air Transport Command - FIREBALL EXPRESS. This was a 13,000-mile run from Miami to India "over-the-hump" carrying cargo to the forces of General Chennault of China. He was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross, and after the War, he later retired as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves.
Mr. Latimer was a Commercial Pilot for Eastern Airlines for 30 years and then flew for Icelandic Airlines, and Air Jamaica until he retired at age sixty-five. In 1969 Captain Latimer piloted a Douglas Stretch DC8 Jet that was hijacked to Havana, Cuba. Once on the ground, he refused to leave his passengers and after much deliberation with the Cuban Government, became the first pilot to fly a hijacked airplane, with all its passengers, out of Cuba and back to the United States.
Mr. Latimer was a lifetime member of the Piedmont Driving Club and a formal member of the Capital City Club both of Atlanta, Georgia. He was also a charter member of the Rivera Country Club in Coral Gables, Florida and was a founding member of the Wildcat Cliff Country Club, and long time member of the Highlands Country Club of Highlands, NC having first played the Golf Course in 1929.
A daughter, Cary Latimer Robinson, preceded Mr. Latimer in death. Survivors besides his wife, Beverly Latimer, include his children, Gena (Robert) Smith, Swainsboro, GA, and William Carroll (Brenda) Latimer, III, Holden, MA; a sister, May (Mrs. James ) Wyatt, Sausalito, CA; seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. A Private celebration of his life will be held at his Amelia Island home for family and friends. Interment will be at a later date in Highlands, NC.
Marr Date14 Apr 1942
Marr PlaceMiami, Dade County, Florida