Eugene John Latham, 82, federal police officer

Eugene John Latham, a retired federal Protective Services police officer, died Sunday of myelodyspasia at his Arbutus home. He was 82.

Mr. Latham was born in Baltimore and raised in Lansdowne. He attended Catonsville High School and served in the Army during World War II.

He was a member of the 797th Military Police Battalion, serving until 1943, when he was discharged with the rank of private.

Mr. Latham joined the federal Protective Services Police in 1943 and was assigned to the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard. He spent the last 15 years of his career at the Social Security Administration headquarters in Woodlawn. He was a lieutenant when he retired in 1983.

Mr. Latham was an accomplished woodworker and enjoyed making dollhouses for his grandchildren. He was fan of the Orioles, Ravens and Maryland Terrapins.

He was married for 50 years to Jeanne Edenfield, who died in 1997.

Mr. Latham was a communicant of St. Joseph Monastery Roman Catholic Church, where a Mass of Christian burial was offered Thursday.

He is survived by two sons, John W. Latham of Eldersburg and David E. Latham of Baltimore Highlands; a daughter, Elizabeth Anne DeRock of Stone Mountain, Ga.; two brothers, Charles Latham of Edison, N.J., and John Latham of Lansdowne; three sisters, Margarette Kinstler of Sykesville, Anna Wood of Baltimore, and Rose Dietrick of Ellicott City; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.