Robert Jackson Latham

Robert (Bobby) Jackson Latham, 87, of Graham, Texas, earned his Heavenly football jersey, #35, Tuesday, June 1, 2021, in Graham.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 12, at the Wildcatter Ranch Hotel, Miss Addies Room in Graham. (6062 Highway 16 South)

Bobby was born Aug. 18, 1934, in Lubbock, Texas, to William E. Latham and Lola V. (Kilcrease) Latham. He graduated from Brownfield High School in 1952.He attended Texas Tech University from 1952 to 1954. He was a successful businessman in retail clothing at Latham's Department store from 1953 until he sold the business in 1980.

He was a member of the Church at Horseshoe Bay, Rotary, United Way, the Chamber of Commerce, served on the board of directors at Lubbock Country Club, and was a member of the Masonic Lodge for over 50 years, receiving his 32nd degree distinction.

Bobby was a sports fanatic, and was always sure to watch football, basketball, golf, baseball. It didn't matter what sport it was, if it was Tech, he was cheering for them. He loved to play golf, gin rummy, fishing, reading about history, studying the stock market, checking on his farms, telling stories, and finding great places to eat -- especially if they served a great piece of pie.

Bobby married his sweetheart, Wanda Jean Cloud, on June 18, 1953, in Brownfield. Together they had two children, Jerry and Kimberly. Bobby loved his family. He checked on them regularly to see that everyone was ok, sometimes two or three times a day.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Jean Latham of Graham; two children, Jerry Latham and wife Renea of Horseshoe Bay, and Kimberly Birdwell and husband Phil of Possum Kingdom Lake; five grandchildren, Jerrod Latham and wife Izabelle, Shaun Latham and Laura Wood, Shaydra Elizondo and husband Kory, Brad Birdwell and wife Heather, and Hunter Birdwell; and twelve great-grandchildren, Revan Cashion, Isaac Mauricio, Daniel Mauricio, Vanessa Latham, Lola Latham, Dylan Latham, Madison Latham, Alex Elizondo, Nathan Elizondo, Jaxon Latham, Bryson Latham, and Presleigh Latham.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Texas Tech Alumni Association, Robert J. Latham Family Scholarship, P.O. Box 45001, Lubbock, Texas, 79409, or charity of your choice.