John Stephen Latta, Jr.

John Stephen Latta, Jr., 86, of Mansfield, TX, took his last breath on Earth and his first breath in Heaven early Christmas morning, December 25, 2025.
He was born January 20, 1939, in Lake Charles, LA, and grew up in Beaumont, TX. He obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M ('60) and Master of Science from Texas Tech ('62). Most of his adult life was spent in the business/corporate world, last working for E-Systems/ElectroCom/Siemens in Arlington, TX, where he held positions of Vice President of Engineering, New Business Development, Marketing & Sales, and Commercial Sorting. He retired from the corporate world in 2001, and made Oklahoma home. It was on his ranch on the Blue River in Coleman, OK, that he felt most fulfilled from 1992-2016. He loved plants and trees and planted several thousand pine trees on the ranch over the years. Sadly, the diagnosis of dementia/Alzheimer's necessitated the move from the ranch back to Texas in 2016.
John is survived by Carol Latta, his wife of 41 years; son, Steven Latta; daughters, Melissa (Jay) Grace, Julia (Michael) Quillen, Melanie (Eric) Hill, and Melissa (Tim) Miller; 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of John's life will be held at Ringling United Methodist Church, 117 W H Street, Ringling, OK, on Saturday, January 17th at 2 pm.
Memorial donations may be made to Cure Alzheimer's Fund (curealz.org).