LATHAM, Howard

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, AZ Wednesday, April 7, 2010 Howard Latham, 94, died Friday, April 2, 2010, in Sedona, where he recently celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary with his wife, Duane Louise Dickinson. Mr. Latham loved the West, and with his passion for building dams, began his career in engineering and construction with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. He retired from the bureau after serving as chief in the Division of Safety. A World War II veteran, Mr. Latham served as a lieutenant on board destroyers operating in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. Mr. Latham and his wife are graduates of the University of Washington in Seattle. He was a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers and the National Safety Council. During his 22 years of service with the Bureau of Reclamation, he received the Department of the Interior's highest honor -- the Distinguished Service Award. Hungry Horse Dam, Mont., was Mr. Latham's first construction project. His last was Glen Canyon Dam, where he was assistant project manager. He was an engineer on the Dalles Dam in Oregon and the St. Lawrence Seaway in New York. He and his wife were among the first residents of Oak Creek Village. Their eldest son, Gary Latham -- former Flagstaff police chief who recently died -- helped them build their dream home in 1974. In addition to his wife, Mr. Latham is survived by children Vicki Huddleton, Steve and Jeff Latham; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Mr. Latham will be remembered at a memorial on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Bueler Funeral Homes, 143 W. Arnold St., in Camp Verde. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice Compassus, 70 Bell Rock Plaza, Suite A, Sedona, AZ 86351.