George Wesley West

Anchorage resident George Wesley West, 73, died at Providence Medical Center in Anchorage on Jan. 19, 2012 from complications of a heart condition.

A viewing will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 27, preceding a funeral service to be held at noon at the Anchorage Baptist Temple, 6401 E. Northern Lights Blvd. in Anchorage. After the service, George will be buried at the Ft. Richardson Cemetery with military honors scheduled for 2 p.m.

For further information about services, call Charlene at (907) 441-0632.

Mr. West was born on Oct. 18, 1938 in Philadelphia, Penn. and moved to Anchorage in 1971. He served in the U.S. Navy for three years and spent another 37 as a civil service machinist. He worked at the Metal Tech Shop, 3rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, where he retired on Oct. 30, 2009. He had the distinction of being named Civilian of the Year, and received commendation at the Pentagon in 1987 for that honor. He also received multiple letters of accolade and appreciation from various Colonels and Lt. Colonel’s for his efforts. George played the piano and enjoyed the outdoors; he especially loved to hunt and fish. He was a craftsman with woodworking and metal fabrication. He truly loved spending time and telling stories to his grandchildren.

“He loved the Lord with all his heart as well as his sweetheart Gail for the 52 years they spent together. He was the ultimate storyteller of his life experiences. Our father was a patriot, serving his country with pride and love. Dad was a master craftsman with his hands; his grandpa skills made him No. 1 to all his grandchildren. Dad’s laugh was also contagious, his sense of humor and quick wit never stopped. Dad loved to eat, and mom’s cooking was his favorite. Mom says that he was the best hand-holder in the world. If he had a fault, it was that he hated to comb his hair. Overall he was a good, kind, and loving man,” his family wrote.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Sarah Katherine West, and his father, George Llewllyn West.

He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Gail West of Anchorage; sons and daughters-in-law, George William West and his wife, Barbara, of Palmer, and Robert Culver West and his wife, Iris, of Wasilla; daughters and sons-in-law, Charlene Rene Ehm and her husband, Kevin, of Anchorage, and Michelle Marie Hansen and her fiancé, Andrew Corser, of Orlando, Fla; grandchildren, Jonathan Ehm, Jennifer Ehm, Krystal Ehm, Lydia West, Jacob West, Michelle West, Branden Sparkman, Michael Posciri and Patrick Corser; and great-grandchildren Emily Dean, Sean Dean, Noah Dean, Maisie Dean, Gianna Ehm, Ember West, Giovanni Posciri and Quency Posciri.

Arrangements were by Anchorage Funeral Home (www.AlaskanFuneral.com)