Barbara Lathrop (Lacy) Watros

Barbara Lathrop

Mom was born on May 27, 1933 to Chet and Dot Lacy of Marathon, NY where she grew up on Front Street. She always said she had a wonderful childhood and would talk about the parades the kids would have, the leaf houses she made, her family and friends. She was Valedictorian of her Marathon High School class of 1951, went to Oneonta State Teachers College graduating with a B.S. in Home Economics, and then taught in Newfield and Geneseo. She married her high school sweetheart, Bob Lathrop in June 1956 and had three children: Tom, Brenda and Glenn. They lived in the Dryden/Groton area in several homes and farms and enjoyed attending their children's school activities as well as taking care of the farm animals. She was known for her cooking and was a great mom, endlessly taking her kids to and picking them up from practices, rehearsals, events and friends houses.

After 28 years of marriage, Bob died in 1984. Mom spent many years caring for her grandchildren, Matt and Jennie, never missing a concert, sports event or cow show. She volunteered at the Cortland Memorial Hospital Coffee shop and was very involved with the First United Homer Methodist Church. Mutual friends introduced her to Don Brown of Dryden and they were married in 1993. They were busy campers, traveling many miles across the United States as far as Alaska, visiting their children and seeing many sites. They spent time at their camp on Sacandaga Lake and enjoyed gardening and were very involved with Campers Klub, who met monthly for a dish to pass dinner and play cards.

After Don’s passing in 2004, mom continued to volunteer at the hospital coffee shop and spend time with her grandkids. She reconnected with Duke Watros at a Marathon Alumni reunion and they were married in 2006. They enjoyed gardening, Cortland Repertory Theater plays, Syracuse Symphony concerts, traveling to Vermont and Puerto Rico and were very involved with the United Methodist Church of Marathon. After Duke passed in 2015, mom moved to Cortland then to the Elizabeth Brewster House.

With declining health last year, mom moved to a private care home where she was wonderfully cared for and able to enjoy dogs and a cat that she loved to tell you about, children playing, trips to parks and the zoo, and the special people there.

She is survived by her children: Tom Lathrop, Brenda (Rob) Benjamin and Glenn (Gigi) Lathrop; Grandchildren Matt Denniston, Jennie (Matt) Lee and Keri (Matt) Ruegsegger; great grandchildren Kyle and Keagan Ruegsegger, and McCauley Lee; sister Helen Lane; along with many stepchildren and step grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Mom was a beautiful woman, sweet and pleasant with a lovely smile. She loved us and us her. She will be missed and remembered.

Mom was surrounded by family for her 90’th birthday on May 27’th. She left us peacefully the next day in the company of people who loved and cared about her.

Private services were June 1’st at Willow Glen Cemetery.

Donations in memory may be made to:

The First United Methodist Church of Homer

607-749-3260

https://www.homerfirst.org/

Elizabeth Brewster House

607-749-2442

http://www.brewsterhouse.org/ebh-foundation.html