Alfred Martin West

Oct. 21, 1943 - Oct. 14, 2024

Lt. Col. Alfred “Al” Martin West, 80, passed away Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at his home in Athens, Ala. He was born Oct. 21, 1943, in Birmingham, where he grew up with six brothers and graduated from John Carroll High School.

Al was a highly decorated helicopter pilot who rescued 200 comrades during the Vietnam War, where he was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Commendation Medal with combat valor and the Silver Star, the nation’s third-highest military honor. Among his most notable postings was serving as the commanding officer at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan, and as a Pentagon comptroller in Washington, D.C. He volunteered for war service, joining the Marines in 1966 and retiring honorably in 1986.

Al was an optimist, an encourager, a writer at heart, a patriot and lifelong learner. He adored his wife of 46 years, Laura Anne, and they shared a life of adventure, devout Catholic faith, deep affection for animals, horseback riding and devotion to raising four daughters. He loved his companion dogs, Duke, Buddy and Duff, Louis L’Amour novels, John Wayne films, walks on his farm property and seeing others thrive. He possessed nerves of steel and a gentle heart and was a humble soul who will be greatly missed by his loved ones, who take comfort in his eternal resting place in heaven.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Laura Anne Thompson West; parents, Howard Rayfield West and Louise Klyce West; brothers, Thomas K. West, Larry West and Nicholas W. West; brother-in-law, David Thompson; sister-in-law, Edith Marie James; and niece, Lauren McClellan Sanders.

He is survived by his parents-in-law, Wayne and Claire Thompson; daughters, Paula Denise West, Glenna Diane West Lambert, Kimberly Anne West Alewine and Maria Christina West Gillman; sons-in-law, Mike Payne, Michael Lambert, Chris Gillman and Brian Alewine; brothers, Ray West, David West and Patrick West; sisters-in-law, Beth West, Betty Nelson, Teresa Roberts, Jamie West, Peggy West, Julia Thompson Sanders and Karen Thompson; brother-in-law, Steve Sanders; grandchildren, Stephanie Laura Denise Harris (Kevin), Christopher Nicholas Martin Payne, Kristen Diane Lambert, Elisabeth Anne Lambert, Ian Christopher Gillman and Linsley LauraAnne Gillman; great-grandchildren, Alivia Laura Lynn Harris and Avery Lee Tyndall Harris; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Mike Payne, Chris Gillman, Ian Gillman, Christopher Payne, Kevin Harris and Brian Alewine.

Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church in Athens. Deacon Charles Butler will officiate the funeral service at 1 p.m., followed by the graveside service at Roselawn Cemetery in Athens.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Al’s name to St. Paul Catholic Church, 1900 U.S. 72 West, Athens, AL 35611 (256-232-4191).

McConnell Funeral Home in Athens will handle the funeral arrangements.