William R. Lathers Golden Township Fund
Fund Type
Designated
Designated
Established
12/27/2005
12/27/2005
Purpose
Supports capital improvements by charitable organizations for projects within Golden Township of Oceana County in memory of William R. Lathers
Supports capital improvements by charitable organizations for projects within Golden Township of Oceana County in memory of William R. Lathers
Story
There is a stake in the ground in the middle of the little town of Mears. Most people assume it is a surveyor's stake. To Bill Lathers, however, it was the "axis by which he spun." His brother Dale agrees, saying "Bill lived his entire life in Mears. It was the center of his universe." Bill was a "bricks & mortar" type of guy and liked his charitable giving to reflect that passion. Dale remembers his brother as famous for saying, "I'll put in a buck, if you put in a buck." His style of giving had many successful outcomes for local organizations looking to raise money for a special project. Bill once pledged up to $50,000 for whatever could be raised in one miracle Sunday at the Mears Community Church. Over $60,000 was raised and $115,000 went into their building fund in one day. Bill owned and operated Bill's Dune Rides of Silver Lake for 29 years and took great joy in introducing people to Oceana County dune country. He bought and sold used cars for many years and owned a substantial collection of antique/classic cars. In 1998, the William R. Lathers Transportation Museum was dedicated in his honor in the Historic Park in Mears. During his estate planning, Bill expressed his dream for his significant gift to be used in Mears on capital projects. He envisioned his fund being the seed money for any number of future projects. Through the William R. Lathers Golden Township Fund, Bill's legacy of giving continues in his beloved town of Mears.
There is a stake in the ground in the middle of the little town of Mears. Most people assume it is a surveyor's stake. To Bill Lathers, however, it was the "axis by which he spun." His brother Dale agrees, saying "Bill lived his entire life in Mears. It was the center of his universe." Bill was a "bricks & mortar" type of guy and liked his charitable giving to reflect that passion. Dale remembers his brother as famous for saying, "I'll put in a buck, if you put in a buck." His style of giving had many successful outcomes for local organizations looking to raise money for a special project. Bill once pledged up to $50,000 for whatever could be raised in one miracle Sunday at the Mears Community Church. Over $60,000 was raised and $115,000 went into their building fund in one day. Bill owned and operated Bill's Dune Rides of Silver Lake for 29 years and took great joy in introducing people to Oceana County dune country. He bought and sold used cars for many years and owned a substantial collection of antique/classic cars. In 1998, the William R. Lathers Transportation Museum was dedicated in his honor in the Historic Park in Mears. During his estate planning, Bill expressed his dream for his significant gift to be used in Mears on capital projects. He envisioned his fund being the seed money for any number of future projects. Through the William R. Lathers Golden Township Fund, Bill's legacy of giving continues in his beloved town of Mears.