Lathan Tracy

Lathan Edward "Skip" Tracy, 85, departed peacefully from this world on Tuesday 12 February 2019. Born 18 July 1933, in Barrington, Rhode Island. He is preceded in death by his father, Leslie L Tracy and mother Lena "Sweetheart" Tracy.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Deborah M. Tracy, daughters Susan L. Tracy, Sondra L. Uptergrove, Sheryl T. Jordan, (Keith), and adopted son Brendan M. Tracy. His brother Irv Tracy (Priscilla) of Colorado Springs, CO and sister Doreen Fiedler of Martha’s Vineyard, MA. His family grew to 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

All who met Skip knew he was a special man, but few probably realized the true adventure he had during his 85 years. Growing up in Barrington, Rhode Island meant you loved the water and it was forever in his DNA. As a pre-teen during WWII, he often ditched school to drive a coal delivery truck around Barrington as most men were away overseas. With the itch to do his part, but after the war, he signed up for the U.S. Coast Guard and served as a lighthouse keeper at Sabin Point lighthouse in R.I. Knowing there must be still more out there and with Deborah by his side, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft mechanic and C-47 "Gooney Bird" and C-119 “Flying Boxcar” crew chief/loadmaster. This took him all over the world as he served in Texas, Alabama, Clark AFB Philippines, Weisbaden AB West Germany. The USAF took note of his love for the water and his final assignment was serving on a USAF boat that transported General Officers from Bolling AFB to the Pentagon via the Potomac River. It was there he was approached by a U.S. Army General on one such trip that wanted to know why he was working on a boat for the USAF and informed him that the Army had more boats than the Navy and certainly the USAF. So in 1966 he transitioned from USAF Tech Sergeant to U.S. Army Warrant Officer (WO1). Later assigned to Fort Eustis Virginia, he and Deborah settled in Wake, Virginia and he proclaimed he was done roaming and "Dun~Roamin Farm" was established in 1969. From 1969 to 1974 and his retirement from the Army, Skip served two tours of landing craft duty in Vietnam (68/69 Da Nang) (70/71 Quy Nhon) and three tours of duty at Fort Eustis training Army boat personnel.

Retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer (CW3) in 1974, Skip loved his Dun~Roamin Farm and poured all his time into animals and working the soil. Local Middlesex County residents knew him as the happy go lucky man with the full white beard, easy laugh and a vigorous handshake that was like a vice. On more than one occasion each December he received awe inspired looks from young children which he always enjoyed playing along with, giving a 'be good' glance and a jolly “Ho, Ho, Ho”! Many people know him as the 'strawberry guy’, blueberry guy', 'mum guy’ or the State Fair 'apple butter guy’. He was always looking to plant ‘just 100 more’ plants, bushes or tending to ‘just one more’ honeybee hive. For the last 50 plus years, Wake and Dun~Roamin Farm have been his passion, but not his only adventure. In his 60s, he took up motorcycle riding and rode well into his 84th year with his white beard blowing in the wind. This passion for adventure was best demonstrated by riding round trip from Wake, VA to Barrington, RI on his motorcycle to attend his Barrington High School 55th class reunion! For his 80th birthday he decided that he was going to build a boat and that's what he did. Prior to his 81st birthday he had completed a hand-built 12 foot, two man sailboat called the Sand Dollar. Skip was never one to just sit around, he was always on the go and he remained faithful to that practice to the very end.

This past Tuesday night, Skip set sail for one more adventure and he'd want us all to get about our business and would not want any fuss. A private service will be held and in lieu of flowers the family asked for donations in his name to the Hartfield Volunteer Fire Department or Riverside Walter Reed Hospice. Arrangements by Faulkner Funeral Homes, Bristow-Faulkner Chapel, Saluda.