Benjamin Edward West II

 

Funeral services for Benjamin Edward West II, 76, will be held on Friday, July 21, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana. A graveside and burial will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 7970 Mike Clark Rd., Keithville, Louisiana. A visitation will be held Thursday, July 20, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Officiating the service will be Pastor Andrew Brewster.

Benjamin was born on July 23, 1946, in McKinney, Texas to Benjamin Edward West I and Marian Haase West and passed away on Friday, July 14, 2023 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Benjamin was a long-time resident of Shreveport, Louisiana.  He was a graduate of McKinney High School and Grayson County College. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in June 1968 and retired August 1st, 1992. Ben had many amazing stories from his time in the military. His career spanned the globe, stationing him at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois, Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, Incirlik, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, where he retired. Ben was a Vietnam and Desert Storm Veteran. Ben loved sailing and street rods. He joined the sailing club and street rod club at every duty station. He enjoyed playing rugby and racquet ball and is a member of the Lone Wolf Car Club.

He was married to Dana Burkett from 1967-1990 and Joyce Howell form 1993-2015 before becoming a widower. Benjamin worked for Hormel selling chili and Spam. He owned rental properties, Champion Luggage Trailers, and worked for Clearfork Consulting Services for 20 plus years. He was the "Undisputed King" of hanging Christmas lights for the Shreveport/Bossier area. Benjamin was a cancer survivor and not even cancer could interrupt his Christmas light season! Ben loved his family, sailing, street rods, Mardi Gras, food and collecting recipes. He will be greatly missed by his family and all his many friends. He loved to tell jokes, was always laughing, and was truly one-of-a-kind.

Benjamin is preceded in death by his parents; and wife, Joyce Howell West. Left to cherish his memory are his sons, Benjamin Edward West III, Jason Burkett West, Adam David West and wife, Lindsay West, and Jordan Dewey West and wife, Allison West; grandchildren, Zakary James West, Haleigh Marie West and husband, John David McWaters, Landry Alise West, Jack Marshall West, Abraham Dewey West, and Sylvia Ruby West; brother, David West and wife, Carla West and their children, Jay West, Erin West Russo and Robert West; and sister, Karen West.

Honoring Benjamin as pallbearers will be Steve Howell, Garrett Ballard and Jack West.