FREDERICK M. LATHROP

MIDDLEBURY — Frederick M. Lathrop, age 100, passed away peacefully July 31, 2026, after experiencing a rich and full life. Fred was born March 15, 1926, in Morristown, N.J., to Helen (Bush) and Charles M. Lathrop. He was the oldest of three sons. He attended Denville Grade School and Mountain Lakes High School.

Fred learned to hunt and fish at an early age and thoroughly enjoyed being outdoors. He continued these activities until two years ago. His enthusiasm for hunting provided some unique experiences and deep friendships. His hunting adventures took him to several states and into Canada.

As a boy, he learned gardening on the Bush family vegetable farm. He used this skill throughout his life, growing vegetables for his family.

During the spring of 1944, at the age of 17, Fred enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served as signalman on the troop carrier U.S.S. Montrail. After leaving the navy in 1946, he moved to New York and worked on a dairy farm.

Susan (Lind) and Fred were married Oct. 27, 1951, in Shushan, N.Y. They enjoyed a long marriage of almost 75 years, raising four children.

He enjoyed spending time at the Cambridge airport learning to fly small planes and earned his instrumental pilot’s license.

Fred enjoyed working with wood and building things. He built a unique four-bedroom log house in Shushan. When they moved to Vermont in 1971, he renovated an old farmhouse and barn on Dog Team Road in New Haven. A few years later he pioneered the building of an earth sheltered house utilizing solar heat water for radiant heating.

He worked a variety of jobs, including paving supervisor with Pike Industries, road commissioner for the town of New Haven, and served briefly on the New Haven selectboard.

Fred is survived by his wife, Susan; children, Elaine, Lorraine (Willey), Frederick and Nancy (Ackland); five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents and two brothers, Raymond and Gerald.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, at the Evergreen Cemetery in New Haven. ◊