Mrs. Barbara Joan Lathrop

Mrs. Barbara Joan Lathrop, age 79, of Murray, Kentucky, passed away Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Spring Creek Health Care in Murray, Kentucky.
 Mrs. Lathrop was born on November 11, 1946, in Weatherford, Texas to the late Winfred B. Brown and Margot (Mosely) Brown. After attending Texas Tech University Joan moved to Houston, Texas and started her lifelong career in Deaf Services as a church interpreter at Westbury Church of Christ, and as a Community Interpreter with The Houston Deaf Center. After moving to Weatherford, Texas in 1982, she started working for The Goodrich of the Deaf in Fort Worth, Texas as a receptionist and interpreter, quickly working her way to become the Director of the Center, where she served for 19 years. During her time with The Goodrich Center, Joan served on several state committees for the deaf, hard of hearing, and handicapped. In 2001, she started her own business, Lathrop Interpreting Services, L.L.C. from which she retired in 2011, after having a quadruple heart bypass. In 2023, she and her husband, Russell, moved to Kentucky to be with their daughter, Tiffany and her children. There, she joined Green Plain Church of Christ where she made several new friends and renewed her relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with whom she now resides.
          In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Pamela (Brown) Tarpley; as well as two brothers, Robert Allen Brown and Winfred B. Brown, Jr.
          Survivors include her husband, Russell Neil Lathrop; two children, Heather Leeann (Lathrop) Chang and husband Anthony “Tony” and Tiffany Shain (Lathrop) West; as well as five grandchildren, Asher Chang, Laird Chang, Ferris Chang, Tristan West, and Sudie Berry.
          A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Murray City Cemetery with Mike Ernstberger officiating and burial will follow. Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
          Expressions of sympathy can be made to the New Pathways for Children, 3233 Shaw Road or PO Box 10, Melber, Kentucky 42069 or you can call at 270-674-6061.
          Online condolences can be made at, www.jhchurchill.com