95, of Tampa went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 2nd at Tampa General Hospital. Born on June 3, 1923, in Preston Lake Township, Minnesota, he moved to Tampa in 1980. He graduated from Buffalo Lake High School in 1941. He served in the US Army during WWII as a medium tank crewman, MI rifle sharpshooter, and as a clerk typist. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal. Before his military service, he worked on his family’s farm and upon honorable discharge he bought and operated his own farm in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota until his retirement in 1980 when he moved to Florida. Retirement as usually imagined was not a satisfactory alternative so he went on to become a self-employed handyman, biscuit-maker at Hardees, and finally a bagger at Publix until his more traditional retirement in 2010. Alvin was an avid bike rider, and enjoyed gardening, fishing, and playing with his grandchildren and great grandson. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cedar Mills, MN until he moved to Florida where he attended St. Matthews Lutheran Church (now known as Family of Christ West Lutheran Church). When it became too difficult to travel to church, the church came to Alvin in the form of many enjoyable visits from Pastor Bill Whitehead. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Malinda M Gennrich Westphal ; parents, Ferdinand and Bertha Westphal; sisters: Dora Westphal, Lillian Stark, Gladys Rusch; brother, Ervin and his wife, Clarine Gass Westphal; brother-in-law, Albert Stark. He is survived by his daughter, Janice Lewis; granddaughters, Melissa and Victoria Lewis; great grandson, Dontae Gonzalez; brother-in-law, Gordon Rusch; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. There will be a visitation on Saturday, Sept 15th from 1-2pm at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, 605 S MacDill Ave with a funeral service to follow at 2pm, followed by interment at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park. Donations in Alvin’s memory can be made to Family of Christ West Lutheran Church, 5601 Hanley Road, Tampa, FL 33634 or to the charity of your choice.
