George Audley West Jr.

George Audley West Jr. was born in Gill, Colorado (northeast of Greeley) in 1919 to a farming family. His grandparents had homesteaded in Arvada, Colorado and his parents were homesteading in Gill. George’s parents moved back to Arvada shortly after he was born and purchased an entire block of property bounded by Ammons, Grandview and 57th Avenue where they began farming strawberries along with other produce and, of course, chickens.

George grew up in the house on Ammons Street and graduated in the class of 1937 at Arvada High School. During his senior year of high school ‘Weezer’ West had the distinction of playing forward on the Redskins basketball team that went to the state tournament.

After graduating high school George enlisted in the US Navy and was stationed on the battleship USS Utah anchored in Pearl Harbor. Fortunately for his family, George was on shore leave when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and bombed and torpedoed the Utah. For the remainder of World War II George was stationed on a submarine tender moored at Perth, Australia. During the war he was promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer.

Upon his return to the United States in 1945, George’s only child, Alan Harvey West was born in San Francisco. In 1948 he transferred to the Air Force and married Mary Panzi. Together they raised his son Alan and served tours in France, Germany and many locations in America. Home was always Colorado, though, and when George retired from the Air Force as a Master Sergeant, the family returned to Arvada. George worked for the FAA and Alan went to Arvada High School where George had played basketball. In 1961 George moved to Grand Junction to work for the FAA at Walker Airfield and Alan subsequently graduated from Grand Junction High School. In 1965 George retired from the FAA and went to work for Continental Airlines at Stapleton Airport. George retired from Continental Airlines in 1977 and enjoyed many years of retirement with Mary until her death in 2008.

In 1968 George and Mary purchased their house in Arvada built on land formerly owned by his father and next door to his father’s farm house. He lived there until his death.

In 1972 George and Mary became proud grandparents when Mark Alan West was born. They were delighted. Todd Eric West added to their joy in 1974. George loved being a grandfather and later a great-grandfather when Mark’s three sons Turner, Hogan and Avery were born.

George passed away peacefully at home cared for by his son Alan and Alan’s wife Janet. It was George’s wish to go home and eat real food until he died. Alan and his wife are grateful that they were able to grant his wish with the incredible assistance from Lutheran Collier Hospice.

George never lost his devotion to his country and attended the 70th reunion held in Pearl Harbor of the crew of the USS Utah. He was proud of his service in that dark time of World War II and also afterward in Europe as the world began to recover from the devastation of war.

Arrangements under the direction of Moore Howard Chapel, Denver, CO.