Theodore A. Lata, 95, passed away on Saturday February 3, 2018 at Walnut Creek Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. He was born in Erie on January 5, 1923 to Josephine and John Lata.

He was raised and educated in Erie. He attended Erie Tech High School. He served in France, Germany, and England during World War II and came home to Erie to work and start his family. He worked at Erie Art Metal for 20 years and 24 years at Specialty Packing Corporation Sterling Seal Company. He went on to become a boilermaker and then an electrician. He built a summer home, by himself, at Findlay Lake, NY for his family. They resided there every summer where his children and then grandchildren enjoyed life on the lake with him.

He attended Abiding Hope Lutheran Church and believed in helping others whenever he could. He learned to ballroom dance after he retired and enjoyed attending the dances and the many friends he made there.

He is survived his wife, Cheryl Lata, residing in Carlisle, PA; his children, Bruce Lata of Erie, Brenda Wells and her husband, Joseph, of Erie, Colleen Williams of Savannah, GA, and Nick Daemous of Pittsburgh; his grandchildren, Sean Gannon, Amber Neumaier and Charles Williams; great grandchildren, William and Ava Neumaier, and Madison Gannon; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his four children, Olga Lata; one grandson, Quentin Lata; four brothers, Louis, Mitchell, Edwin, and Stanley Lata; one sister, Helen Wisinski; and one daughter in law, Deborah Lata

Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Rd., on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. and are invited to services at Abiding Hope Lutheran Church, 2402 W. Grandview Boulevard, on Thursday at 10:00 a.m.. Burial with full military honors will follow in Erie Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to a charity of one's choice.