David T. West
David T. West died on
Wednesday (April 23, 2008) at the Kansas Medical Center in Andover.
He was born the son of Rose
(Darlington) and Tullis Ray West in Copiah, Miss.
On Nov. 24, 1956, he married
Gay Stillions in Rome, Miss.
He graduated from Drew
Mississippi High School and then attended Sunflower Junior College for two
years. David transferred to Mississippi State University, where he graduated in
1956 with his bachelor of science degree in agriculture engineering. He worked
for Hesston Corp. as a design engineer for 21 years. David then went on to work
for Chance Industries, located in Wichita, as a stress analysis engineer. While
employed there, he designed and tested many of the carnival rides and the
Ferris wheel at the Kansas State Fair. He retired from Chance Industries in
1998. Upon his retirement, he became a freelance engineer consultant for his
own firm, Emma Creek Engineering, located in Newton.
David served in the U.S. Army
from 1956 to 1960.
He was a member of First
Christian Church of Newton, Kansas. He was very active in the church and served
as a deacon and elder, on a variety of boards and also sang in the choir. David
shared his love for singing by joining the Mennonite Mens Chorus.
David and Gay were members of
the Shoe Scuffers Square Dance club in Hesston also for many years. He also
served as a Cub Scout leader during his lifetime. He enjoyed gardening, growing
trees and writing.
He was a wonderful, loving
husband, father and father-in-law. David will be remembered for his smile and
his passion for life.
Survivors include his wife
and three sons, David Andrew West and companion, David Chestnut, of St.
Petersburg, Fla., Frank Christopher West and wife, Lorna, of Wichita, and
Timothy Allen West of Newton; and sister Lucretia Rushing of Lorman, Miss.
Preceding him in death were
his parents and a sister, Rosemary Byrd.
Visitation will be from 1 to
8 p.m. Wednesday at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton.
Funeral services will be at
10 a.m. Thursday at First Christian Church in Newton with the Rev. Gary Bell
presiding.
Burial will be at Greenwood
Cemetery in Newton.
Memorials may be made to
First Christian Church or Utah Artificial Heart Program with attention to the Intermountain
Medical Center, in care of the funeral home.
Friends may sign the guest
book and view the obituary at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.
