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Latimer, 88, Was 'Dedicated To Sharing History With Children'

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By RICH SHOPES

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 13, 2008

TAMPA - Lois Latimer enjoyed history and teaching children so it made sense she would volunteer as a docent at Cracker Country, the historical village at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

"She had little songs she would sing and have little rhymes to help the children remember a particular fact," Museum Director Rip Stalvey said. "She was very dedicated to sharing history with children, particularly Florida's history."

Latimer was more than a docent. A mother of four and grandmother of eight, Latimer volunteered at the Tampa Historical Society and worked for nearly 30 years as a teacher. She was perhaps best known by the public, though, through her husband, the late Sam Latimer, a former anchor at WFLA, Channel 8.

A South Tampa resident and member of Christ the King Catholic Church, Latimer died Wednesday at Memorial Hospital in South Tampa. She was 88.

"She was the ultimate volunteer, and she had a keen interest in children," said daughter Rosalind Simpson.

Born in Cleveland in 1919, Latimer was the daughter of vaudeville performers and often toured with her parents, dancing and singing.

She is survived by four children - Simpson, Hillsborough Sheriff's Maj. Craig Latimer, retired Sheriff's Lt. Randy Latimer and Rebecca Pfeiffer - and eight grandchildren.

"She was a very warm and caring person," Simpson said. "The one thing she instilled in all of us, and in me in particular, was to not wait when someone needed help, but to step up to the plate and help your fellow man."

A talented seamstress, she helped create the period costumes for Cracker Country, where she volunteered from the 1990s until a couple of years ago. She also baked pies and cakes, and played bridge every Wednesday.

Stalvey said he remembers Latimer liked to pull practical jokes on him.

"She had an excellent sense of humor," he said. "She was one of those individuals that everybody loved to be around."

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633 or at rshopes@tampatrib.com.

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