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WILLIAM RUSSELL WEST

Following a brief battle with leukemia, William Russell West, age 80, of Hayes, went to be with the Lord on May 19, 2013 surrounded by his loving family.

William was born on Jan. 17, 1933 in Gloucester County, Va., to Russell and Bettie West, one of seven children. He graduated from Achilles High School and the Newport News Apprentice School.

William fell in love and married JoAnn on March 7, 1953 in Indiana, Pa. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

William served our country honorably in the United States Army, spending much of his duty in France. He worked at the Newport News Shipbuilding for 41 years and retired in February 1993 as a Manager of Nuclear Inspection.

William loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and was a deacon, choir member, and Sunday School teacher at Union Baptist Church in Achilles. William also headed up the Gloucester Point Campground ministry for 27 years. He spent his life ministering, witnessing, and sharing the love of the Lord with others. 

After the Lord, his wife, his family, and his church, William had a great love for working on the water. Following retirement, William became a commercial waterman, crabbing and fishing full-time.

William leaves a remarkable legacy to his family of loving the Lord and helping others. He will be greatly missed by all.

William leaves behind his wife JoAnn; his three children, the Rev. Bill West and wife Barbara, Rick West, daughter Shirley Hogge and husband Neal; grandchildren, the Rev. Aaron and Heather West, Adam and Laura West, Lauren and Mike Sigmon, Neal and Annie Hogge, Lyndsay West, and Logan West; great-grandchildren Emma and Ethan West, Micah West, and Kinslee Sigmon, and siblings, Fannie Johnson, Amos West, Ernest West and Marion Earl West.

William was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Bettie West, and brothers, Stonewall West and Merton West.

The family received friends from 1-3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at Union Baptist Church in Achilles, with a funeral immediately following at 3 o’clock with the Rev. Jeff Griffin officiating. Burial was in Bethany United Methodist Church Cemetery, Gloucester Point.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Eastover Retreat Center and the American Red Cross.

Please leave condolences at www.wjsmithandsonfh.com.

Arrangements by W.J. Smith & Son Funeral Home, Newport News.