Jerry Latta, 78, former IBM executive was Brookgreen volunteer
October 27, 2022
Jerry Lee Latta of Pawleys Plantation died Oct. 1 at Georgetown Memorial Hospital after battling a number of serious illnesses for over seven years. He was 78.
He was loving, patient, and always hopeful to the end. His many caregivers looked forward to being with him, as he always had a kind word and never lost his incredible sense of humor.
He was born July 19, 1944, in Guthrie, Okla., the son of Iris and Helen Latta. He lived in Raton, N.M., until he moved to Oklahoma City during his sophomore year. He enrolled at Classen High School and met his future wife, Susan, in a 10th-grade algebra class.
Upon graduation, he received the Anton H. Classen Medal of Honor, the school’s highest award. Jerry attended the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated from the University of Oklahoma, where he majored in engineering physics. He went on to earn his MBA at Oklahoma City University.
Mr. Latta worked for IBM for 34 years, retiring in 2001. He started in sales in Oklahoma City, but became a good example of IBM’s early acronym of “I’ve Been Moved” after taking on a marketing manager position in the Los Angeles area, and then a branch manager position in Chicago, before finally settling in Wilton, Conn., where he lived with his family for 25 years.
He held many various executive positions with IBM in New York and Connecticut, and also spent seven years in Tokyo.
Mr. Latta enjoyed traveling the world, playing golf, watching University of Oklahoma football and Boston Red Sox games, and spending quality time with his extended family at their cottage on Lake Rescue in Ludlow, Vt., where he was an active member of the Lake Rescue Association.
In South Carolina, he spent over 10 years as a volunteer at Brookgreen Gardens. He enjoyed being a “meeter/greeter” at the restaurant and spending many hours at the “Nights of a Thousand Candles.”
In addition to his wife of 56 years, he is survived by his sons, Blinn Latta (Allison) of Pelham, N.Y., and Blake Latta (Penny) of Glen Ellyn, Ill.; his daughter, Laura Clinton (Ryan) of Naperville, Ill.; his grandchildren, Nathan, Megan, Caroline and Henry Latta, Sean, Conor, Jack, and Colleen Clinton, and Elizabeth and William Latta; his sister, Sue Caldarelli, of Pass Christian, Miss., and his brother, Tim Latta, of Vista, Calif., who came to live with Jerry and Susan at the age of 9 after their parents died. Tim’s children, Chimay Allis and Ryan Latta, considered Jerry as a grandfather.
Another brother, Ron Latta, died before him.
Memorials may be made to the Lake Rescue Association, or for continuing research for Parkinson’s disease or Type 1 diabetes.
