William “Bill” Leth passed away on June 30, 2021, at the age of 86, surrounded by his loving family.
Bill was born on December 4, 1934, in Honolulu, Hawaii. At age 7 he was an observer of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Over the years, Bill presented several talks about his memories of December 7, 1941, and living in Honolulu during World War II.
Bill’s family moved to Zillah, WA in 1947, where he attended school and graduated from Zillah High in 1953. He was active in football, yearbook and newspaper staffs and student government.
Bill attended Central Washington College of Education where he graduated in 1957 with a major in education and minors in math, journalism, and business education. During college, he was Editor-in Chief of the Campus Crier, where he met his star reporter, Janet Crooks from Wenatchee, whom he later married.
fiAfter teaching five years at Parkrose Jr. High near Portland, Oregon, Bill accepted a teaching position in 1962 at Centralia High School. He taught journalism, business classes and advised the school newspaper at CHS for 30 years. After attaining his M.A., Bill taught various business classes in the evening adult education program at Centralia College for 17 years.
During his later years in education, Bill was active in the Centralia Education Association and served as president and treasurer. Also, during these years he served on the board of Western Washington Business Education Association and was elected president of the state organization.
After retiring from teaching in 1992, Bill was hired by Twin Star Credit Union and worked there for 8 years.
Bill and his wife, Jan, were “snowbirds” in Tucson, Arizona, and enjoyed many trips together, both domestic and abroad. In August 1997, he and Jan were part of a group who started Centralia High School Dollars for Scholars. They were active members of the DFS Board for ten years, during which Bill served as president and treasurer.
Bill is survived by his wife Jan; daughters Shari Eckersley and Natalie Leth; son Mark (Suzy); granddaughters Kelly and Erin; sister Sue (Mike) Platt; and half-brother Tim (Marilyn) Clark. He is predeceased by his parents Frances and Peter Leth and brother Lee Leth.
A Hawaiian-themed Celebration of Life for Bill is planned on Sunday, August 1, 2021, from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Gathering Place, Stillwaters Estates, 2800 Cooks Hill Road in Centralia. Attendees are invited to wear Hawaiian attire in his honor.
Donations may be made in Bill’s name to Centralia High School Dollars for Scholars.
