Gary E. West

Gary West, 86, passed away in the embrace of his loving wife, Phyllis J. (Flip), and surrounded by his family on Sunday September 3, 2023, in his Naples Florida home. Gary, fondly known as GW, was the son of Guy H. and Mary Ann West of Wheeling, West Virginia. He was preceded in death by his parents and three siblings: G.H. West, James West and Jack West. Gary is survived by his wife, Flip, sister Patti West, many nieces and nephews, two daughters: Kimberly West Baker and her husband, Howard Baker, and Lori West Sholota and her husband, Chris Sholota. Gary and Flip have four grandchildren: Lindsay, Ross, Trivette, and Brooklyn, as well as two great-grandchildren: Rowan and Owen (Bo).
He attended West Liberty University and graduated with a BSBA degree in 1958. After graduating, he worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for 13 years, moving to several states as his industry knowledge and expertise grew. In 1970 he purchased Valley Welding Supply Company in Wheeling, West Virginia. Gary grew Valley Welding into 10 states and 55 locations. It grew into the largest, privately-held distributor of medical gas and welding supply products in the United States. In 1997, under West's Leadership as CEO, Valley National Gases, Inc. went public and the company continued to grow with 84 locations in 16 states. Gary continued to be involved in several other businesses in West Virginia and Florida. Gary served on many corporate boards and committees and was the recipient of numerous honors and distinguished awards over his years of dedicated work such as: West Liberty University Alumni Wall of Fame and West Virginia Business Hall of Fame at West Virginia University. He invested considerable personal time and financial assets in his alma mater, West Liberty University. Gary and his wife, Flip, established the Guy H. and Mary Ann West
School of Business scholarship Endowment, and he served as a chair of the college's capital campaign. WLU honored Gary by naming their College of Businesses; the "Gary West College of Business." Gary and Flip also invested financial support in West Liberty University athletic department. In gratitude, West Liberty University renamed the football stadium the West Family Stadium. Gary and Flip West's other endeavor of love is with the Oglebay Foundation in Wheeling. They have dedicated their own personal time and finances to further the agenda of keeping Oglebay Park a state treasure legacy. Due to their generosity, Oglebay Park Foundation has honored Flip and Gary by naming The West Spa at Oglebay and the West Ballroom at Wilson Lodge in honor of their support. Aside from his business dealings, Gary was passionate about flying his own aircraft and helicopters. He also enjoyed boating on the Ohio River, in the British Virgin Islands and in the Florida Gulf. Let's not forget his love of cars! Gary E. West led a full and purposeful life. He impacted so many lives and communities and never forgot his roots. Gary will be truly missed; but never forgotten. He was one of a kind.
A mass in remembrance of Gary will be held on January 6, 2024 at St. Michael Catholic Church in Wheeling followed by a celebration of his life at the West Event Hall next to Stratford Springs in Wheeling.
Memorial contributions may be made in Memory of Gary, which he was very passionate about, to The West Liberty Foundation, The Oglebay Foundation and/or St. Jude Research Hospital for Children
Arrangements by Altmeyer Funeral Home, Wheeling.