Joel Fritz West

Joel Fritz West
Joel Fritz West, 87, a 47-year resident of Ellington, loving husband of over 57 years to Elizabeth "Liz" (Smith) West, peacefully passed away, at home, surrounded by his family on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Joel was born on February 26, 1937, in Lebanon, New Hampshire, one of two beloved children of the late Seth and Louise West. He was a graduate of Lebanon High School and Boston University. Joel was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, proudly serving his country from 1958-1962 during the Vietnam War.
Along with raising his family, Joel began his professional career in the HVAC industry and later was employed with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. He decided that he wanted to serve his community and began his law enforcement career with the Glastonbury Police Department. Joel moved on to become a Trooper First Class for the Connecticut State Police. A position he truly enjoyed and held for over 20 years until his retirement in 1988. After retirement, he needed to keep himself busy and took a position with Ellington Public Works in the WPCA division.
Joel had many interests. Fishing was a lifelong passion. He sang in the South Windsor Community Chorus, and in his church choir at ECC for many years. He served as a volunteer firefighter, along with his son Ben. He volunteered for Mystic Seaport, helping to restore old ships. A voracious reader, his home was chocked full of books; many of them history.
In addition to his loving spouse, Liz, he leaves his five children and their spouses, Jodie and Randy Harrison of Boise, ID, Eric and Diane West of Dracut, MA, Jeffrey and Melinda West of Beverly, NJ, Benjamin and Charity West of Vernon and Rachel West-Balling and Marc Balling of South Windsor. His ten cherished grandchildren, (Jason, Amy, Joshua, Megan, Nicholas, Cheyenne, Brooke, James, Deric, and Kurtis), five special great-grandchildren, (Neill, Cailin, Cameron, Morgan, Logan) and several nieces, nephews, and their families. In addition to his parents, Joel was predeceased by a son Jonathan Daniel West and his sister, Diane Handspicker.
All are welcome to join his family for calling hours at the Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, 551 Talcottville Road in Vernon on Thursday, Aprill 11, 2024, from 4-7 pm. Funeral services will be at the Ellington Congregational Church, 72 Main St., Ellington, CT 06029 on Friday, April 12, 2024, at 10:00 am. Burial with Military Honor will follow at 1:00 pm at the Old Howard Cemetery, 20 Armsby Road, Sutton, MA 01590. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ellington Congregational Church or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org To leave a condolence, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com