Bimbo West

Bimbo West, a beloved husband, mentor, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully at his home on January 1, 2026, with his loving wife, Angie, by his side. He was 71 years old. Born in Leesville, Louisiana, on July 14, 1954, to Yvonne Gay West and Van O. West, Bimbo lived a life defined by unwavering dedication to his family, his friends, and the many passions that shaped who he was. He met the love of his life, Angie West, at church, and together they shared nearly 50 years of love, laughter, and partnership. They were married on November 27, 1976, and built not only a life together, but a lasting legacy within their community. Through their partnership, Bimbo and Angie became widely known for their work with dogs, particularly retriever training. As the proud owners of Liberty Creek Kennels, they raised and trained hundreds of retrievers and earned the respect and admiration of dog trainers far and wide. A self-proclaimed "dinosaur," Bimbo believed in hands-on training and never relied on collars as a tool. His passion for excellence was evident in every dog he trained, and dog training was truly his life's work. Beyond his career, Bimbo was a man of many passions. He deeply loved the outdoors, especially turkey hunting, which he discovered alongside his lifelong friend, Bo Harris. Though turkey hunting became his ultimate obsession, Bimbo was an accomplished hunter of duck, deer, elk-if it could be hunted, he hunted it, and he did it as well as anyone ever could. He also loved fishing, playing golf with friends, and working in his yard, which he took great pride in keeping just right. Bimbo's greatest joy was his family. He was a devoted and loving uncle to his many nieces and nephews and treated every child he encountered as part of his extended family. He was a faithful guide for the Fort Polk Annual Youth Turkey Hunt, where he took great pride in sharing his knowledge and love of the outdoors with the next generation. To many, Bimbo was a mentor, a teacher, and a steady source of wisdom and encouragement. Professionally, Bimbo worked in the oilfield for 15 years before moving to Alford Motors. He later found a job at Fort Polk, where he truly loved his work. After 25 years at Battlefield Effects, JRTC, he retired-but never slowed down. His passion for dog training remained at the center of his life. Whatever Bimbo set his mind to, he gave it everything he had. Cutting corners was never an option. Bimbo was an active member of the Oatmeal Rangers, East Leesville Baptist Church, and served as the 2004 State Ducks Unlimited Chairman. From his days in Little League through his working years and beyond, he left a lasting impression on everyone he encountered through his work ethic, integrity, and larger-than-life personality. Bimbo West lived life to the fullest and gave his all in everything he did. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Angie; his beloved dogs, Benelli and Feather; his family; and the countless people whose lives he touched. He was preceded in death by his parents, Van O. West and Yvonne Gay West. Those left to cherish his memory include his loving- wife of 49 years, Angela West of Leesville, Louisiana; sister Ronaleen Hagan (James) of Leesville, Louisiana; brother Johnny West (Paula) of Leesville, Louisiana; sister-in-law Donna Bennett of Cedar Park, Texas; brother-in-law Timothy Lee of Colorado Springs, Colorado; nieces Jordan Lee, Trina Ruiz and her three children, Trisha Dunn and child, Jamie Busby (Kenneth) and two children, Courtney Davis (Chris) and two children; nephews Trent Bennett, Chad Hagan (Mignette) and two children, and Ryan West (Brittany) and two children; along with four great-great nieces and great-great nephews who were the joy of his life. Funeral services honoring his life will be held on Monday, January 5, 2025, at East Leesville Baptist Church, at 1:00 p.m. with Reverend Tommy Kiker and Bo Harris officiating. Visitation will be on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until time of the service. Burial will follow at Self Cemetery under the direction of Jeane's Funeral Service. Serving as pallbearers will be Bo Harris, Phillip Landry, Chad Guess, Sam Fertitta Jr., David Phillips, and Luke Landry. Honorary pallbearers will be Ron Sturm, Jason McDaniel, David Lewis, Greg Blackwell, Derek Mayo, Rodney Brister, David Landry, and Bill Tyree.