Elizabeth Lathrop

1929 - 2025

Elizabeth Leda Lathrop (née Slater) passed away peacefully on September 16, 2025 at the age of 96, surrounded by three generations of loved ones.

Liz was born on January 15, 1929 in Upper Lake, California, the 2nd of four children, to Lea and Marion Slater. After living on several small farms in northern California, her family moved to Tacoma, WA at the inception of World War II so her father could assist in the war effort.

From her earliest days, Liz approached life with infectious curiosity and grit. After graduating from Lincoln High School in Tacoma in 1946, Liz aimed this curiosity and grit at higher education. She attended the University of Oregon for one year, the University of Washington for a semester, and then finished her studies at the Central Washington College of Education (now CWU), graduating with a degree in education in 1950. One day, while vigorously scrubbing tables (she never did anything halfway) in a student dining hall, she caught the eye of fellow student Robert Lathrop.

Though she declined his first proposal, they went on to share sixty-five years of marriage.

Leading up to her marriage to Robert (Bob), Liz student-taught in Cashmere, Washington. Her career as an elementary classroom teacher in the Highline School District formally began soon thereafter, however, was put on hold with the arrival of the first of five children. Liz supported Bob through his post-graduate work, moving the family between Kent, WA and Pullman, WA, before they ultimately settled in Gig Harbor in 1965.

In the years to follow, Liz ferried her kids to scouts, 4H, music and sports, but still managed to carve out time for gardening, sewing, and cooking many famous - and some infamous homemade meals. She also continued to nurture her love for being outside and learning about the natural world, organizing family backpacking trips into the Olympic Mountains, skiing from the family cabin, sailing the waters of Puget Sound, and tending to a prolific vegetable garden. She was also an avid reader, bread-baker, and distance runner. To keep up-to-date in her profession, Liz also substituted in Peninsula School District and taught night-school at Fort Lewis.

Liz resumed her teaching career with the Tacoma School District in the 1970s, retiring in the early 1990s. In retirement, she became a Master Gardener, environmental advocate, and grandma. She volunteered untold hours for these avocations, with organizations such as Harbor WildWatch, Great Peninsula Conservancy, and the League of Women Voters. Her civic engagement extended to local politics–Liz spent numerous hours attending county hearings on water and land use issues. She prized her role as a grandmother to seven grandchildren, always ensuring there were cookies in the cookie jar, sewing grammie-jammies, and savoring their accomplishments and adventures.

In her nineties, Liz continued to face life's challenges with her trademark fortitude. She was frustrated by her blindness, but remained informed and intellectually curious, and was always willing to share her opinion. During this time, she found solace in listening to NPR and audio-books, and probing the life stories of family members, her many beloved friends, and strangers alike. To those who had the good fortune of knowing Liz, you must know that she felt immensely fortunate to know you, too.

Liz was predeceased in death by husband Bob, and two siblings, Peg Bennett and Hewitt Slater. Survivors include children Patrick (Susan), Dan (Dough), Ron (Kerstin), Becky (Ed Santos), Andrew (Denine), her sister Anne Vandermay and several nieces and nephews; grandchildren Caspar, Alicia, Sarah, Ethan, Leah, Keira and Isaac, as well as five great-children.

Remembrances may be made to the Great Peninsula Conservancy, 6536 Kitsap Way, Bremerton, WA 98312. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Sehmel Homestead Park in Gig Harbor at 2:00. All are welcome to attend.