Gail L. Lathrop, 78, of Olney died at 10:53 a.m. Wednesday April 30, 2003 at Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney.  Funeral services at First Presbyterian Church in Olney with Reverend Laura Reason officiating. Burial with full military rites in Crest Haven Memorial Park near Claremont.

Mr. Lathrop was born on January 26, 1925 in Lawrence County, the son of Dempy and Leafa (Hutchinson) Lathrop. He married Shirley Hill and she survives.

He was a Social Science teacher at Beecher City from 1950 to 1954 and from 1955 to 1958 at East Richland High School. He was ERHS guidance director from 1958 to 1959 and East Richland Community Unit District guidance director in 1960. He was principal at ERHS from 1961 to 1965. He was academic dean at Olney Community College from 1965 to 1968. He was vice president and Dean of Instruction from 1968 to 1969 at Olney Central College, president from 1969 to 1975 and instructor of American History Political Science and Sociology from 1975 to 1985. He was mayor of Olney from 1977 to 1989. He was chairman of the Olney Richland County Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1991. He was chairman of the Richland Memorial Hospital Board of Directors from December 1996 to September 2002 and was a current member of the board.

Mr. Lathrop was a U.S. Navy veteran and a member of First Presbyterian Church in Olney.

Mr. Lathrop is survived by his wife, Shirley Lathrop of Olney; a daughter Becky McGrew and her husband, Larry of Flora; a grand ??? McGrew of Paicines, Calif. and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Kathryn, one brother and one sister.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)