William West

Reverend Dr. William Beryl West, age 79 passed away the 5th day of January 2011. He was born September 4, 1931 in Amarillo, TX. Beryl was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd Beryl and Lota Bernice Smith West of Borger, TX and a sister Myrna Belle Jones of Carlsbad, NM. He is survived by his wife, Linda Marlin Lynch west, brother, Bob (Helen) West of McKinney, TX, sons, Greg (Jan) West of Midland, TX, Mark West of Murfreesboro, TN, step son, Eric (Michele) Lynch of Murfreesboro, TN, and grandchildren, Andy, Kate, and Maddie of TX, Abby West of CA, and Chris Parker Lynch of MO. Beryl graduated from Borger High School in 1949 and was a licensed to preach by the First Baptist Church of Borger, TX that fall. He graduated from West Texas A&M University in 1953 with a B.S. degree in history. He obtained a M.Div. and a Th.M. from Southwest Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX. Reverend West pastured several churches in the Dallas/Ft Worth area before serving as Pastor of Highland Baptist Church, Arlington, TX from 1958-1968. During that time, he received a M.Ed. and Ed.D in Psychology from the North Texas State University. From 1969-2001 he served as the interim pastor for various churches in the Middle TN area. In 2001, he became the full time pastor for Mt Carmel Baptist Church. He retired in the spring of 2010. He served as a pastor for 61 years. In 1969, he joined the staff at Middle Tennessee State University as a professor in the Psychology Dept. retiring in 2009. During his tenure at MTSU, Dr. West was nominated and received many awards for outstanding teaching and service to the University and the Community. He was named RBJ Campbell Distinguished Professor in 1986, received the Outstanding Public Service Award in 1980 and 1984. He founded the Black Student Union and Psi Chi/Psychology Club at MTSU, serving as the initial faculty sponsor for each, help to establish the MTSU Multicultural Affairs Committee and with others wrote the initial grant, which resulted in the creation of MTSU Woman's Center. Dr. West also founded the Tennessee Association of Specialist in group work and the Tennessee High School Teachers of Psychology Association. He was the voice of the "Band of Blue" from 1970 - 1996. Beryl loved a marching band, to be called "Uncle Beryl" and life was an adventure that he enjoyed to the fullness. He retired after 40 years of service at MTSU as Professor Emeritus. His extraordinary survival from cancer in 1996 led to new friendships with his Vanderbilt doctors. He was asked to participate in a study of a new kidney treatment and was more than happy to help. Later he took part in a program for medical students who interviewed patients with terminal illness. This led to a request that he write an article for the Tara Rosa Magazine "Successfully Surviving Cancer". The West family would like to express our sincere thanks to the caring and compassionate medical staff at AdamsPlace, to the excellent doctors at Vanderbilt and MTMC. Our appreciation to MTSU colleagues with special thanks to Matthew and Elaine Royal. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00pm Saturday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Funeral service will be 1:00 pm Sunday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Reverend Clark Harrell and Reverend Jack Carney will officiate. Burial will be in Prater Cemetery on Manchester Hwy with Masonic Rites. Pallbearers will be Bob West, James Harrell, Col. Roy C. Dalton, Jim Rust, Dr. John Pleas, Dr. Forrest Toms, Dr. Tom Tang, Dr. Terry Whiteside. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a memorial be made to the W. Beryl West Psychology Scholarship Fund, Account # 94836, MTSU Foundation, PO Box 109, 1301 East Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37132. Woodfin Memorial Chapel. 615-893-5151. Online condolences may be made at www.woodfinchapel.com