Muriel J. Latta passed away on Aug. 11 at the age of 85.
Latta raised her three children, Shari, Allen and Marilyn, in Malibu, working as many as three jobs at a time to provide not only sustenance, but dirt bikes, skateboards and a horse.
She was born in Riverside, Calif. on Nov. 19, 1929 and grew up in the Long Beach area. She graduated from Pepperdine and began teaching in El Segundo in 1954. She taught in Malibu schools before moving to the L.A. School District, teaching in the heart of South Central for many years. She relocated schools to Encino where she retired, only to move to St. Petersburg, Russia to teach in a mission school for two-and-a-half years. Latta was named Teacher of the Year in Encino and appeared in Who’s Who Among American Teachers in 1996.
Latta has spent the past 20 years volunteering five to seven days per week at schools, church, library and Joni Eareckson Tada’s foundation for the disability community.
She adopted two girls from her Sunday school class as granddaughters — Brooke and Nicole, who have grown, married and each now have sons, who Latta considered her great-grandsons.
Latta is survived by her three children, her sister Jackie, Jackie’s children, grandchildren and many close friends.
“Muriel’s infectious smile, laugh and selfless love, energy, tenacity, strength, and stoic giving will be very much missed,” a loved one shared.
Services took place at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village on Aug. 14. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Joni Eareckson Tada’s foundation at joniandfriends.org.