Stearns Doyle Lathrop, Ruthadele, 1918-2005

Ruthadele Stearns Doyal Lathrop was born Ruthadele Margaret Tapper on February 17, 1918 in Wisconsin, the daughter of Samuel E. Tapper and Meta G. (Brennecke) Tapper. In 1944, Ruthadele married her first husband, James Anthony Cone in California. They divorced soon after and Ruthadele married Charles R. Stearns and had a son, Charles “Chic” Stearns, Jr. In 1963, she married her third husband, Jerry M. Doyle. By 1969, they were no longer together and she married William O. Lathrop.

Ruthadele was a photographer and ballroom dancer, living most of her life in California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ruthadele traveled often, taking landscape photographs throughout the Western United States, many of which she entered into competitions. As a ballroom dancer, she competed in multiple dance competitions in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ruthadele passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 24, 2005 at the age of 87.