Jabez Abel Lathrop

Jabez “Jake” Abel Lathrop. Jake was born June 23, 1952, in New London, CT, to the late Melvin and Charlotte Lathrop. He passed away November 30, 2022, at the age of 70, after a brief illness with his wife Susan and daughter Heather by his side. He lived his life in Bozrah. He is survived by his wife of 25 years Susan; they had been together for 36 years. He is also survived by his daughter Heather Nenna of Uncasville, her husband Edward, and grandsons Joey and Jake, as well as his son Kevin of Oakdale, granddaughter Sedona and grandson Oliver. He is survived by his brother Earl and wife Charlene and their son Brandon of Bozrah, brother William and wife Mary and their children Virginia, Will, Michael, and Elizabeth of Plantsville, and brother Donald and wife Molly and their children Bonnie and Jacob of Bozrah. His former wife Nancy Lathrop of Uncasville survives him. He was predeceased by his brother Robert of Texas who left behind his wife Peggy and daughter Carol. His Nephew Jamison also predeceased him. He is also survived by numerous grandnieces and grandnephews plus many, many friends.  

Jake attended Fields Memorial School in Bozrah and then Norwich Technical High School. He was employed by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft for 43 years before retiring in 2015. Even while working at Pratt, he worked other side jobs for many years in construction, carpentry, masonry, landscaping, excavation and other things. He was a definite “Jack of all trades” and learned something from all the jobs he worked at that added to the vast knowledge he had to teach. He was a very smart man who could solve most issues that arose around the house.  

Jake loved to be outdoors. Depending on the season you could find him in his vegetable garden, splitting wood, cutting down a tree, mowing the lawn, raking hay, baling hay, tinkering in his shed...the list goes on. He was a hard worker who was always busy. He was always willing to help his family and friends who needed help with things small to big. He could think outside the box to make many repairs. He often had Joey as his shadow on many projects showing him the ins and outs of how to assemble or fix something, or how to tackle a task. In the summer he was usually found with his brother Donald in the hay fields baling Hay. They made a great team every summer working out there!  

Jake and Sue loved to go out. They were well known regulars at several places and had their “reserved” seats at some places. He made friends everywhere he went with his outgoing personality and stories to tell. He could usually get people laughing anywhere. They enjoyed going to Connecticut Sun basketball games and watching young Jake play Little League baseball. They spent many vacations together on the Jersey Shore in Wildwood, the last few years taking Heather, Ed, Joey and Jake and also going to Diggerland (not sure if he or the kids had more fun) Jake loved the waves in the ocean even though he couldn’t swim, making his daughter and grandsons a bit nervous when Ed had to pull him up after a rogue wave one year. Many evenings were spent playing board games with Joey and Jake, afternoons at the movies with them and other adventures. The boys were pretty sure he was banned from Burger King after he spilled his soda all over the table and floor one time.  

Jake was also a hard worker but he could also be found relaxing on his porch in his favorite Adirondack chair in his overalls and his red hat with a Busch Lite in his hand. When he went out it was usually in one of his many Hawaiian shirts he loved with no socks on. He would not want anyone to cry too long, but to remember the good times and raise a toast to him. Think of the funny stories and the Jakeisms/Popsisms he had: that wearing a hat would make everything better is a favorite. He was a social butterfly with a bit of a hard nose but underneath it all he had a heart of gold. And he will be missed by so many. So raise a glass and toast Jake and tell a good tale of a funny adventure with him as there must be plenty. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Bozrah Fire House P.O. Box 2, 239 Fitchville Road Bozrah, CT. 06334 or the Bozrah Congregational Church 23 Bozrah St. Bozrah, CT 06334. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 10:00 AM at the Bozrah Congregational Church, 19 Bozrah Street, Bozrah, CT. The family will receive relatives and friends immediately following.  A private burial at Johnson's Cemetary will be held at the family's discretion. The Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home of Colchester has been entrusted with care of arrangements. To share a memory or express a condolence to the family, please visit:  www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.