Walter Lathen Obituary

he is great grandfather, i only met him when I was a baby, but i know that he was a great man. he taught really good in music, my grandmother told me he taught her to play the clarinet. May he R.I.P.

Again. My best to the family along with Winfield Gaylor, Les Scott and in memoreum, James Jabbo Ware who followed Walter Dec. 2022.

Walter Lathen was a great inspiration to me as a young
musician at Webster Groves H.S. about 1957, struggling to master the saxophone....I never really did, but his encouragement, love of music, and his care for all his students made a lasting impression on me. He was one of the very best of the WGHS faculty and it was an honor to have known him and had him as a mentor. My sincere condolences to his family.

Word of your loss has just reached some of us who were students at Webster Groves High School (MO) in the late 1950's. Walter was our Assistant Band Director for several years, and was highly respected for his soft-spoken words and musical expertise. He was one of those teachers who DID make an impact on his students. As a member of the WGHS Class of 1959, my warm wishes and sincere sympathies are extended to his family.

Walter Lathen was one of the giants of black music and music education in my home town of St. Louis, Missouri. His almost half century as bassist and business manager for the signature society and swing big band in our area, George Hudson and his Orchestra, alone, qualifies the musical reference made here.That band included many other great instrumentalist/educators; Will Carter, Willie Ray Smith, Vernon Nashville, Hamiet Bluiett, Freddie Washington, Bugs Harris, Tilford Brooks, Robert Edwards plus many others and significantly one of Walter's closest friends/fishing companions, the incredible master, O'Hara Spearman.
Dr. Spearman was my personal mentor.
I met him in 1959 a few years before Walter Lathen took on a group of inner-city youngsters in a big band rehearsing at the Sara-Page YMCA. I was a member of the group meeting many of my early musical associates there along with my lifelong collaborator, composer band leader, James Jabbo Ware.
This message of appreciation goes out to Mr. Lathen's family and especially to one of his lifelong friends and admirers, Winfield Gaylor and another of Winfield's and my teachers, Les Scott.