William Earl Latham (February 12th, 1937 – February 12th, 2024)

William Earl Latham, age 87, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, passed away February 12, 2024 at DCH Regional Medical Center.

Services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 17, 2024, at Yellow Creek Baptist Church with Dr. John Nixon officiating. Burial will follow in the adjoining church cemetery with Magnolia Chapel North directing. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Susie Mae Latham; brother, Joe Latham; and sister, Ruby Oglesby.

Survivors include his wife, Joann Latham; daughter, Donna Tierce (Tracy); sons, Pat Latham (Darlene) and Gene Latham; brothers, Hayes Latham and Leon Latham; grandchildren, Bradley Latham (Megan), Jessica Powell (Seth), Patricia Camp (Adam), Robbie Tierce (Haley), Brittney Latham, and Jennifer Washington (Alex); and nine great-grandchildren.

Earl was born on February 12, 1937, in Gordo, AL where he grew up alongside his sister and three brothers. There is so much to be said about his life of 87 years. In 1960 he married his amazing wife, Joann. Over the years they had many adventures together. Including raising their three greatest blessings Pat, Gene, and Donna. They spent time in California while he served our country in United States Army. After the military, he had several other occupations. The time he loved the most during his career was when he was behind the wheel of his big rig. Any route on the map he knew.

Due to colon cancer he had to give up his passion for driving trucks. In retirement, he got to enjoy another happy part of life. Every summer you could bet there would be a garden, every morning for years you could find the three musketeers getting a biscuit, and on any given afternoon he and Joann kept each other company on the back porch or in their corner recliners napping. But his favorite thing about retirement was spending time with his family, whether with his wife of 64 years, his wonderful kids, his grandchildren, and in most recent years his nine great-grandchildren. What a great life of 87 years.

Pallbearers will be Charles Sexton, Doug Lewis, Billy Latham, Adam Camp, Alex Washington, Seth Powell, Joe Duncan, and John Powell.

In Proverbs 17:27 it says, “A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.” This verse embodies all of what Earl was and the legacy he leaves. He was a man of few words, had stoic patience, and was always calm. He set a Godly example for his family that will live on for generations.