Roy was born in Childress, Texas on July 7, 1929 to Mamie Elaine Dempsey West and Camden Good West. At 12 years of age he began helping on his parents’ farm, milking cows and driving a tractor that had to have a block of wood on the seat and extenders on the pedals so that he could see over the steering wheel. Roy graduated from Childress High School at the age of 15. As soon as he turned 16 he went to work at the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad Shops and Roundhouse where he was a helper. He was thrilled to be able to work on the big steam engine trains and continued his love of steam engine trains throughout his life. He went to school at Texas A & M. When his friends were drafted during the Korean War, Roy quit school and told the draft board to draft him. He did not want to be thought of as a draft dodger. After training in the Corps of Engineers he was sent to Korea in January, 1952. He was promoted from Private through the ranks and was awarded a battlefield Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant on November 7, 1952. He stayed in the army until April, 1956. He went back to his beloved Texas A &M to finish his degree in 1958. While at Texas A & M he joined and served his country in the Army Reserves until he retired from The Corps of Engineers after 30 years of service. Roy completed his Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1958 and accepted a position with Gulf States Utilities where he worked until he retired in 1994. While working for Gulf States, he held many responsible positions including Superintendent of Louisiana Station in Baton Rouge, the largest electricity/steam generating plant in the U.S. He was Director of Quality Assurance for the Nuclear Plant in St. Francisville, Louisiana and many other important jobs.
Roy loved listening to music, working on his cars and working in the yard. He had the ability to whistle and he loved to whistle “Reveille” and “The Aggie War Hymn”. He taught 16 year olds in Sunday School and led by his example as well as teaching.. He was a very quiet person with very high moral standards. When he did a job he was very thorough and never expected as much from those who worked for him as he expected from himself.
Roy is survived by the love of his life, Jeanette Zimmerman West of over 65 years, two sons: Dennis Wayne West and his wife Kathleen of Fulshear, Texas and David Alan West of Columbia, South Carolina. He has four grandchildren: Cheryl West Blevins and Matthew of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Kyle West and Miranda of Magnolia, Texas, Sandra West Wilson and Trey of Charlotte, North Carolina and Haley West Parma and Myles. He has five great grandchildren: Alissa Blevins, Carter Blevins, “Callie” Blevins, Avery West and Adrienne Wilson. Being with his family was one of his great joys.
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Joy Talitha West Holtman Dickinson and Margaret Ruth West McDonald, grandparents and many Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.
Visitation will be Tuesday at 1.p.m. at Forest Park Funeral Home, 18000 Interstate 45 South, The Woodlands, Texas. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. and the funeral will be at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of the Funeral Home with a Commitment Service following in the Mausoleum with Reverend Bryan Butler officiating. A reception celebrating Roy’s life will be held at the funeral home and all are welcome to attend.
The family would like to thank Lidia Cozma and her wonderful staff at Grace Residential Care for their love, care and concern and Lauren Scott-Cannady and other staff of At Home Health Care Hospice for their love, advice and concern for Roy and the family during his final days.
