Billy Joe Lathrop, b. December 4, 1936 Wayne Co., IL, d. March 6, 2007 at home in Wayne Co., IL. He was the middle child of seven and became a school teacher and farmer. He attended the First United Methodist Church and was a member of the Wayne City Ruritan Club. His remains were cremated and scattered on the family farm. There is a tombstone in Thomason Cemetery in Wayne City, IL.
Bill Lathrop, principal of Belle Rive Grade School, is retiring at the end of the current school year.
Lathrop will be completing 35 years in education in the schools of Wayne and Jefferson Counties.
Former and present students, colleagues, parents and friends are invited to an open house to honor Lathrop 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the school.
Lathrop began his teaching career in 1958 at Berry School in Wayne County. From 1959 to 1971 he taught at Oak Grove Grade School. In 1971 he came to Opdyke-Belle Rive District and has been in that school system since. [Wayne County Press, 1992]
See links under Pages Section to read his school journals from 1958 to 1992.
Memories:
Of course I do not remember being born but I was born in a small three room house located at the bottom of Scrub Hill on the eastern side on 40 acres of ground. It is at the west corner of roads 300 North and 450 East. It was my mother and father's first house (home). I am sure Dad was proud of it and he worked hard to keep it going. I lived on this small farm until I was around 5 1/2 years old, when we moved down the road about one-quarter of a mile to the house next door. During those few short years I have many deep lasting memories.
My mother told me that I was born in this house not in a hospital and before the doctor arrived - I almost died - I turned blue. Apparently I was suffering from a lack of oxygen which I think must have affected my brain for the rest of my life. Mom was confined to bed following my birth. Aunt Flossie stayed to take care of her and me. I was always embarrassed in later years whenever I met Aunt Flossie - and mom would say that this lady - who was a stranger to me - changed my diapers.
Wrecked my car on the way to school this morning . . . on the highway west of Sims. I started to pass a big semi-truck (Art Barnard's) as I got up beside it, he pulled over towards me. I slowed up and pulled over. He had gotten on pass me but my car slipped sideways and hit a bridge buttment right at the middle post. I sorta blacked out. I remember starting to slide sideways next thing a loud crash, then I fell out of the car. It rolled a little ways and stopped or I jumped back in and put the bracks [sic] on. The truck driver stopped I asked him why he pulled across the line. He said that he was changing over to his saddle tank.
I think I had someone take me to Sims and I borrowed Dad's car to get to school. I don't remember as I am writing this some 35 years later. I did use Dad's car while mine was being fixed. I would take him to Sims School then go on to Berry. It took a long time to get my car fixed at Lawrence Johnson's.
Records:
1964 - May - Illinois - Carbondale - Received Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University
1970 - Illinois - Wayne Co. - Certificate of Award - Wayne County Schools - This award is issued to Billy Lathrop in recognition of twelve years of Meritorious Service in the Teaching Profession. Your zeal for your work and your influence in shaping the lives of our future citizens is commendable.
Albert Miller, Wayne County Superintendent of Schools.
The Grantors, Grace E. Lewis, formerly Grace E. Lathrop, widow of Albert Lathrop, deceased, and George Lewis, her husband, of McLeansboro, Illinois 62859; Bonnie D. Holler and Ivan E. Holler, her husband, of 505 Windsor Lane, Fairfield, Illinois, 62837; Betty J. Porter and Eshmal Porter, her husband, of 110009 St. Girard, St. Ann, Missouri 63074; Bobbie R. Lathrop and Doretta K. Lathrop, his wife of 802 West 3rd Street, Sterling, Illinois 61081; Barbara L. Bolton and Robert W. Bolton, her husband of 1204 Leninger Road, Fairfield, Illinois 62837; Dorothy I. Utley and Philip Utley, her husband, of 1827 O'Neal Avenue, Tifton, Georgia 31794; and James C. Lathrop, a single person of Rural Route 1, Wayne City, Illinois 62895, for and inconsideration of Ten and No/100 dollars ($10.00) convey and quit claim to Billy J. Lathrop and Trixie A. Lathrop, husband and wife, not as tenants in common, but as joint tenants, of Rural Route 1, Wayne City, Illinois 62895, the following described Real Estate:
The East One Hundred Thirty-Two (132) feet of the South Six Hundred Sixty (660) feet of the Southwest Quarter (SW1/4) of the Southeast Quarter (SE1/4) of Section Thirty-five (35), Township Two South (T2S), Range Five East (R5E) of the Third Principal Meridian (3rd P.M.), Wayne County, Illinois
Subject to easements and rights of way for roadway and other purposes of record, if any.
Releasing and waiving all rights under and by virtue of the Homestead Exemption Laws of this State.
Dated this 30th day of December 1974
[Signed:] Grace E. Lewis, George M. Lewis, Bonnie D. Holler, Ivan E. Holler, Betty J. Porter, Eshmal Porter, Bobbie R. Lathrop, Doretta K. Lathrop, Barbara L. Bolton, Robert W. Bolton, Dorothy I. Utley, Philip Utley, James C. Lathrop
1981 - August 11 - Illinois, Wayne Co. - Bill & Suellyn Lathrop purchased the Johnson place, 20 acres, from Albert Lathrop's estate for $10 and other good and valuable considerations.
1982 - Aug. 10 - Illinois, Wayne Co. - Bill & Trixie purchased 33 acres of Albert Lathrop's home place from the other heirs. This property adjoined Bill Lathrop's home place.
Warranty Deed - Grantors, Bonnie D. Holler and Ivan E. Holler, her husband, of Dacca, Bangladesh; Betty J. Porter and Eshmal Porter, her husband of 13007 Cannes Street, Creve Coeur, Missouri 63141; Bobbie R. Lathrop and Doretta K. Lathrop, his wife, of 802 West 3rd Street, Sterling, Illinois 61081; Billy J. Lathrop and Trixie A. Lathrop, his wife, of Rural Route 1, Wayne City, Illinois 62895, Barbara L. Bolton and Robert W. Bolton, her husband, of 1204 Leininger Road, Fairfield, Illinois 62837; Dorothy I. Utley and Philip Utley, her husband, of Rural Route 3, Tifton, Georgia 31794; and James C. Lathrop, a single person, of Rural Route 1, Box 207 Odin, Illinois 62870, for and in consideration of Ten and No/100 Dollars (10.00) and other good and valuable considerations, convey and warrant to the Grantees, Billy J. Lathrop and Trixie A. Lathrop, husband and wife, not as tenants in common, but as joint tenants, of Rural Route 1, Wayne City, Wayne County, Illinois 62895, the following described real estate:
The East thirty-three (33) acres of the South fifty (50) acres of the West Half (W1/2) of the Southeast Quarter (SE1/4) of Section Thirty-Five (35), Township Two South (T2S), Range Five East (R5E) of the Third Principal Meridian (3rd P.M.), Wayne County, Illinois, except the East one hundred thirty-two (132) feet of the South six hundred sixty (660) fee of the Southwest Quarter (SW1/4) of said Southeast Quarter SE1/4) of Section Thirty-Five (35) Township Two South (T2S), Range Five East (R5E) of the Third Principal Meridian (3rd P.M.), Wayne County, Illinois.
Reserving unto the Grantors, Bonnie D. Holler, Betty J. Porter, Bobbie R. Lathrop, Barbara L. Bolton, Dorothy I. Utley and James C. Lathrop, one-half (1/2) of their interest in and to the oil, gas, coal and other minerals lying in and under said premises for a period of twenty (20) years from August 10, 1982, and as long thereafter as there may be production; provided however that the Grantees shall have authority to lease the reserved mineral interest for and on behalf of the Grantors.
Subject to prior reservations, conveyances and exceptions of the oil, gas, coal and other minerals of record, if any; and further subject to easements, rights-of-way and dedications of record for road and other purposes. Grantees herein will pay general taxes for the year 1982 due and payable in 1983, and all subsequent taxes.
[Signed:] Bonnie D. Holler, Ivan E. Holler, Betty J. Porter, Eshmal Porter, Bobbie R. Lathrop, Doretta K. Lathrop, Billy J. Lathrop, Trixie A. Lathrop, Barbara L. Bolton, Robert W. Bolton, Dorothy I. Utley, Philip Utley, James C. Lathrop.
1982 - Oct. 25 - Illinois - Wayne Co. - Bill & Trixie sold an acre of land they had purchased from Albert Lathrop's estate, the home farm with a barn to Dorothy Utley.
1987 - March 10 - Illinois - Jefferson Co. - Certificate of Appreciation - In recognition of dedication to the improvement of education in Hamilton-Jefferson County Educational Service Region
1987 - Dec. 21 - Illinois - Jefferson Co. - Certificate of Recognition - This certifies that Bill Lathrop has been awarded this certificate for seventeen years of service to the Opdyke-Belle Rive School
1990 - Dec. 19 - Illinois - Jefferson Co. - Certificate of Recognition - This certifies that Bill Lathrop has been awarded this certificate for Twenty years of service to the Opdyke-Belle Rive School
1992 - June - 1 - Illinois - Jefferson Co. - retired from Opdyke-Belle Rive schools
1992 - Illinois - Wayne Co. - Speech given to Ruritan Club re: mission trip to Louisiana after hurricane Andrew.
Thanks Kenneth [Gray] for inviting us to tell about our trip.
We went to Louisiana for a week to help re-build homes that were destroyed by Hurricane Andrew.
Trixie will tell you about the organization and administration of the project and then I will tell you a little about what we experienced.
We arrived in Baldwin, Louisana on Feb. 14, 1993 [or 1994 I really don't know] which is west of New Orleans and about 15 miles from the Gulf. It is about the size of Wayne City, and is surrounded by thousands of acres of sugarcane.
We had 22 people from our Southern Illinois Church Conference. People from Nashville, Mt. Vernon, Carmi, West Salem, Mt. Erie & Alton, & of course Wayne City.
There were people there from other states such as New York, Indiana, Nebraska, South Dakota & Texas.
The first night we were there the people in charge welcomed us by preparing 400 lbs. of crawfish for supper.
The crawfish were put live into big pots of water and boiled with plenty of red-hot spices added.
We didn't know if we wanted to eat them because of what we had heard about "Cajun Cooking."
The mayor of Baldwin was there to welcome us and showed us how to eat crawfish. Trixie got to eat the first one.
Tables were set up outside and the crawfish were poured out onto the tables. We had no plates or silverware.
They also had potatoes & sweet corn which were spiced up so much that after taking one bite I felt like could breathe out fire.
The work was well organized. People had been to the work sites before hand to be sure materials were there and everything ready for work to begin.
Our group as well as the others were divided into teams. Trixie and I another man and his wife were together. We were assigned to roof and close in a porch and put up dry wall in this one house. The house had already been re-roofed and new siding by teams before us.
Some of the teams were to build houses from the ground up.
It was a great experience.
Suellyn
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