Eleanor Lathrop

ELEANOR LATHROP

Ames

Eleanor Lathrop, 89, of Ames, passed away Nov. 1, 2015, at Mary Greeley Medical Center. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.

Eleanor Mae Lathrop was born April 19, 1926, to

Louis and Mabel (Lang-worthy) Kolar in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She graduated from Franklin High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from the University of Iowa.

Eleanor taught physical education in Independence, Ottumwa and Cedar Rapids. While in Ottumwa, she met Irvin Lathrop. Eleanor and Irvin Lathrop were married Aug. 18, 1951, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in August 2015.

Irvin and Eleanor moved to Michigan for a short time until Irvin took a position at Long Beach State College in Long Beach, Calif. After moving to California, Eleanor received a master's degree from Long Beach State College. She continued teaching physical education at Fitz Junior High School in Garden Grove.

After her retirement from teaching, Eleanor took a position at Disneyland, where she continued working until age 85.

Eleanor was a gifted athlete and was a member of the U.S. National Women's Field Hockey team. She also was an accomplished golfer and bowler and even once appeared on Bowling for Dollars.

Eleanor is survived by her husband, Irvin Lathrop; and her son, James Lathrop and his wife, Jennifer Donnelly, of Ames.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Harold R. Kolar and Leonard H. Kolar.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) or American Heart Association (www.heart.org).

Adams Funeral Home in Ames is assisting the family with arrangements.

Condolences and photos may be shared at www.

adamssoderstrum.com.