Memorial service for Gene William West will be 11 a.m., Sat., April 14, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church with Rev. Bob Gates officiating. Military honors will be presented by the U.S. Marine Corps.
Gene died Tues., April 10, 2012, at his home at the age of 91. He was just two days shy of his 92nd birthday.
The son of James Luther and Hazel (Morgan) West was born April 12, 1920, in Sapulpa. Gene lived a full productive life. He graduated from Sapulpa High School in 1938. Shortly after graduation he migrated to Southern California where jobs were more plentiful. He worked for Douglas Aircraft until 1944. His deferment in the draft expired then and he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. His father had been a Marine in World War I.
Gene was attached to the first Marine Corps Division and served all through the South Pacific Campaign. He was wounded on Okinawa and in 1945 they were staging for the invasion of Japan when the Atom bomb was dropped. All his life he was proud of being a Marine and was at his death a member of Sgt. Justin L. Noyes Marine Corp League here in Claremore. He was chosen Marine of the year in 2010.
After the war, Gene attended the University of Tulsa and graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering. From the time of graduation he worked for Petrolite Corporation which became a part of Baker Hughes. He retired after 31 years, in 1983.
He and his wife, Bea, spent many happy years traveling; and Gene playing his favorite game, golf. They moved to Claremore in 1994.
Gene was an 18 year veteran of Claremore Meals-on-Wheels. First as a driver and later as supervisor of the Monday Crew. He loved his work there. He was a faithful member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church serving as a vestry member and Treasurer of the Men's Club.
Gene is preceded in death by his parents; and his brothers: Jim and Ben West.
He is survived by his wife, Beatrice; step-children: Christine Bewley and her husband, Ralph, Philip Hanley, and Mark Hanley; 4 grandchildren; twin great-grandchildren; nieces: Leslie Kupfer and her husband, Lee, and Phyllis Doohamil and her husband, Jim.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1310 N. Sioux Ave., Claremore, OK 74017.