Rodger Milton West

On Friday August 2, 2019 Rodger Milton West, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed from this life into the arms of Jesus. He left life as he lived it, remaining even in his final days the vibrant and spirited person everyone remembers.

Rodger was born on September 24, 1949 to Maxine and Carlyle West in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was somewhat premature and small, but as we all know, overcame his birth statistics to reach a height of 6’5”. Rodger was the youngest of three rowdy boys and as such he was often involved in mischief. Being a talented and avid storyteller, these tales and many others were regaled to his family and resulted in this cumulative knowledge that we share as a celebration of his life.

Rodger graduated from Myers Park High School in Charlotte, NC in 1967. On December 1, 1969 the United States government drew the lottery number 195 for the birth date of September 24 and Rodger found himself eligible and likely to be drafted. Seizing his own destiny, he decided to voluntarily join the United States Marine Corps. He entered Parris Island in the summer of 1970 and often shared his memories of boot camp. Rodger was proud to serve as Guidon Bearer of his platoon.

After graduation, Rodger joined the Reserves and enrolled at Pfeiffer College in Albemarle, NC, where he met a beautiful dark-haired girl named Mitzi Stoker. They were married after a courtship of just four months to a marriage that would last for 47 years. Rodger graduated Pfeiffer and was accepted to the Wake Forest School of Business. Mitzi would soon join him at Wake Forest in their law school and both were proud to be Wake Forest alumni.

Rodger initially began his career working for his father’s company but found his true talent in Real Estate in the mid 1980’s. After stints in various firms, Rodger opened his own company, Alliance Partners, in 1995 and the company remained active and successful until his death in 2019.

In 1980 Rodger and Mitzi welcomed their first daughter Mitzi Lauren and then their second blonde-haired blue-eyed girl Carolyn Milton in 1983. Rodger was devoted to raising his girls to be strong, independent, educated, and faithful Christian women. His pride and joy were his beautiful wife and daughters.

Rodger is preceded in death by his parents Carlyle and Maxine West, sister Barbara Maxine West, brothers-in-law Terry and Timothy Stoker, parents-in-law Reggie and Jo Stoker and two of his beloved Dobermans Shiris and Sherman. He is survived by his wife Mitzi West, daughter Lauren West Yancey and husband Warren Yancey, daughter Carolyn West Phillips and husband William Chase Phillips, grandchildren West Samuel Yancey, Charlotte Lauren Yancey and William Reeves Phillips, his brothers Edward West and Jeffrey West. One Doberman, Swansea, has yet to cross the Rainbow Bridge.

We rejoice in the knowledge that Rodger knew and loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We rest in the peace of having him fully restored.