My family and our community celebrate the life of my dad, James Edward West who passed away Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at the age of 68. Dad was Chief of the Milford Volunteer Fire Department for 12 years, where he showed his love for the Milford community by working to promote fire and traffic safety throughout the Honey Lake Valley.
Dad was born in 1941 to George B and Marie West of Irwin Pennsylvania. In 1960 the Wests moved to Milford. Dad followed his family, where he found a community that became the home he loved for his entire adult life. After a brief, three-year stint in Greenland, when he served in the US Army, dad settled in Milford. He met and married my mom, Kathleen Muller, in 1968. The couple settled on their Milford property and started their family.
Dad’s greatest loves were my mom Kathleen, his daughters Lainie, Trudi, Carrie and me, his grandson Ry, and sons-in-law Mike and Timber. We are so proud of his unending devotion to his beloved home. He was a loving and giving person who is missed by his siblings Leo, Marion, Donald, George, Suzie and Joanie.
Dad was a gifted electrician who earned a degree as in Business Management. He worked over 30 years as a Civilian Employee of the Department of Defense at Sierra Army Depot. His work took him all over the world, but his favorite part about it was returning to “his” mountain in Northern California.
In 1996 Dad retired and became a full time volunteer in the Milford community.
He talked often about the hours he spent working on projects with his longtime Milford friends. He loved rewiring, fixing plumbing, helping a neighbor to plant crops, counting “his” fire trucks, or just having coffee with the men he cared about.
Dad's greatest wish for his family is security, love and happiness. For his community, dad wanted closeness, support for one another, and a strong center which he envisioned as the volunteer fire department that he worked to build.
Donations in memory can be made to the Milford Volunteer Fire Department at Milford Fire District, PO Box 265, Milford, CA 96121. However, in the spirit of dad's “give of yourself” life ourfamily asks that you volunteer time in your community.
Dad was born in 1941 to George B and Marie West of Irwin Pennsylvania. In 1960 the Wests moved to Milford. Dad followed his family, where he found a community that became the home he loved for his entire adult life. After a brief, three-year stint in Greenland, when he served in the US Army, dad settled in Milford. He met and married my mom, Kathleen Muller, in 1968. The couple settled on their Milford property and started their family.
Dad’s greatest loves were my mom Kathleen, his daughters Lainie, Trudi, Carrie and me, his grandson Ry, and sons-in-law Mike and Timber. We are so proud of his unending devotion to his beloved home. He was a loving and giving person who is missed by his siblings Leo, Marion, Donald, George, Suzie and Joanie.
Dad was a gifted electrician who earned a degree as in Business Management. He worked over 30 years as a Civilian Employee of the Department of Defense at Sierra Army Depot. His work took him all over the world, but his favorite part about it was returning to “his” mountain in Northern California.
In 1996 Dad retired and became a full time volunteer in the Milford community.
He talked often about the hours he spent working on projects with his longtime Milford friends. He loved rewiring, fixing plumbing, helping a neighbor to plant crops, counting “his” fire trucks, or just having coffee with the men he cared about.
Dad's greatest wish for his family is security, love and happiness. For his community, dad wanted closeness, support for one another, and a strong center which he envisioned as the volunteer fire department that he worked to build.
Donations in memory can be made to the Milford Volunteer Fire Department at Milford Fire District, PO Box 265, Milford, CA 96121. However, in the spirit of dad's “give of yourself” life ourfamily asks that you volunteer time in your community.
