Alfred West

WEST
Alfred "Al" G. West, age 89, went to be with the Lord on July 29, 2012. He was born on September 15, 1922 in Williamsburg, KY. Al West grew up in a teacher-oriented environment. His parents, James and Lucinda West were teachers and his sister, Dixie West Martin, also became a member of the teaching profession. Early in Al's college work he attracted the attention of two of his professors, Dr. Perry R. Jones of the Chemistry Department and Dr. Ed Shields of the English Department at Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky. Both of these professors actively urged Al to make teaching his profession. While at Cumberland, Al was awarded the Gorman Jones Memorial Scholarship for the outstanding freshman student. Al's habitual enthusiasm for study and his endless hours of extra work in the field of science impressed his science professor, Dr. Jones, and as a consequence, he selected Al to act as his laboratory assistant, a post he served during both his freshman and sophomore years. Al's education at Cumberland was interrupted at the end of his sophomore year by World War II. Upon completion of Bombardier School at Midland, Texas, Al was selected upon graduation to be an instructor. He served in this teaching capacity for four years.
Upon Al's release from the Military Service at the end of World War II, he returned to school to further his education. By this time he had selected science as his field and had entered Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas to pursue this goal and earn his BS degree. Again, at Trinity, he attracted the attention of Dr. Jacob Uhrich, Head of the Science Department. As, Drs. Jones and Shields had done before, Dr. Uhrich also encouraged Al to become an educator. Al's planned entry into public school teaching was delayed when he was recalled for Military Service in the Korean War. But again, he was placed in a teaching position. He served as an instructor for four years at the Officer Candidate School at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. For the first time, Al truly sensed that he could successfully guide and influence positively the young people with whom he worked. However, upon his release a second time from the Military Service, Al temporarily gave up the teaching profession because he decided to go into business for himself. He successfully owned and operated a laundry in San Antonio, Texas for several years, but always in the back of his mind was a nagging urge to work with students again. Finally with repeated encouragement from his wife Mary, he irrevocably elected to go into the teaching profession. Following his entry into the public school system, Al systematically worked to further his education and worked evenings, Saturdays and summers to earn his Master's degree. Al West began his public school teaching career at the high school level, but at the end of the first year, he moved to the middle school level where remained for several years. He felt his ability to influence students of this age group would perhaps have prevented some of the problems that he had observed at the high school level. Al West was a member of the Shearer Hills Baptist Church of San Antonio where he also taught Sunday School. He attended the First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Kentucky and taught Sunday School there for four years. He is currently a member of the First Baptist Church in San Antonio, TX.
He served as Assistant Cub Master for the Scouts in San Antonio. In addition, he worked with the Junior Science Club of San Antonio which met weekly at the Witte Museum. Al West worked willingly to prepare interesting and innovative material and methods for his students. He was always cognizant of new trends, materials and techniques which he employed to interest and inspire his students. Many of his students participated in community learning activities due to his encouragement.
Mr. Alfred G. West taught for eleven years, ten of these years at the middle school level and one year in high school. After serving as department head of science for many years at Nimitz Middle School he was promoted to an administrative and consultancy position for the North East Independent School District where he finished his career. A native of Williamsburg, Kentucky, Al West was awarded the prestigious honor of Kentucky Colonel twice. He was also a proud member of the Masonic Lodge. Al was preceded in death by his wife, Mary H. West; parents, James Ledford West & Lucinda Miller West; brother, Elmer Clarence West; niece, Glynda Martin Foster. He is survived by his daughter, Debbie West Irby of San Antonio, TX; son, Paul West of Montbrun-Bocage, France and San Antonio, TX; sister, Dixie West Martin of Yuma, AZ; nephew, James Allen Martin of Yuma, AZ; cousins, Jackie West Douglas of Williamsburg, KY & Joyce West Livingston of Bowling Green, KY; several cousins and extended family members in Williamsburg, Lexington, Bowling Green, KY, Prince Frederick, MD, and Kansas City, MO. Visitation will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 4, 2012 with the Funeral Service to be at 3:00 p.m. at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel. A private entombment will follow at Sunset Mausoleum 5000. Condolences may be offered at http://www.sunsetfuneralhomesa.com/.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.