In addition to her research and teaching career, Lathrop was involved in national societies. In 1966, she helped establish the SNM Medical Internal Radiation Dose Committee. She also was the first person to teach radiation safety to workers that would come into contact with radioactive material. After semi-retirement, she became very involved with the Daughters of the American Revolution and genealogy.
Lathrop retired in 2000 due to multiple cerebral ischemic attacks. She died in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on March 10, 2005, from complications caused by dementia.
Lathrop had five children. She had 10 grandchildren at the time of her death.
She died March 10, 2005.