The Ruling of R’ Aharon Kotler to Give A Hesped For Someone Who Supports Torah Even on Chol HaMoed

R’ Shach once related that a certain ba’al habos who helped support lots of Torah was niftar on Chol HaMoed and R’ Aharon Kotler ruled that he should be given hespedim. Those present at the time all asked, “We know who he was, and he never even knew how to learn, why should he deserve to have hespedim on Chol HaMoed, making out as if he is on the same level as a talmud chocham?”. R’ Aharon Kotler answered, that now that he was niftar he is considered a talmid chocham. (Cited in Sefer Otzros HaTorah, Vo’eschanon pg. 56).