Submit a memorial
Celebrate your loved one’s life in a way that’s as independent as they were – in the Daily State News and BayTobayNews.com. Share fond memories, photos and information on celebrations of life using our easy, step-by-step process.
Joshua T. West
Posted 2/10/07
Retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Joshua T. West, 91 DOVER - Retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Joshua T. West of Lewes, formerly of Dover, died Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007, in Beebe Medical Center, Lewes. He was …
You must be a member to read this story.
Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Already a member? Log in to continue. Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
Please log in to continue |
Joshua T. West
Posted
Retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Joshua T. West, 91
DOVER - Retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Joshua T. West of Lewes, formerly of Dover, died Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007, in Beebe Medical Center, Lewes. He was 91.
Gen. West was born Nov. 21, 1915, in Millsboro, son of the late Henry J. and Eva (Wells) West.
He graduated from Millsboro High School in 1933, and University of Delaware in 1938, where he was president of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity, member of the Court of Honor, student manager of the varsity football team and business manager of the Blue Hens.
Gen. West was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Dover.
He worked for Retail Credit Co. out of Dover from 1938 to 1940. From 1946 to 1948 he worked with the Veterans Administration in the Dover office. He retired form the Delaware Department of Transportation in 1977, after 29 years of services.
Gen. West was past president of the Ten-Year Club and past president of the Credit Union.
He entered the U.S. Army Reserves as a second lieutenant in 1938. He served with the Delaware National Guard from 1940 until 1974, including five and a half years of active duty during World War ll. He retired with the rank of brigadier general. He received the Delaware's Conspicuous Service Cross three times.
In 1986 the Delaware National Guard chose Gen. West as their "honoree" for that year and on May 12, 1986, at the Governor's Day Ceremonies, he was awarded the state's highest award for outstanding military performance - the Conspicuous Service Cross with a Second Bronze Star.
He was a charter member and past president of the DelVets of World War II, a 32nd degree mason with Union Lodge 7, and past president of the state Department of Transportation Trowel Club. He was man of the year in the mid-1950s with the Dover Rotary.
Gen. West was a member of the Caesar Rodney board of education from 1963 to 1982, serving as president the majority of those years. He was past president of Delaware School Boards Association. On Aug. 20, 1983, the Delaware School Boards Association presented him with the Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Education.
He was active in Little League and Pony League programs since 1955, and provided service as a coach, manager, umpire and past president of each league.
He married Frances Handy in 1937; she died in 1999.
Gen. West was a loving companion to Wilsie Haber of Lewes.
He is survived by two sons, William G. West and his wife Jacki of Medina, Ohio, and James S. West and his wife Nancy of Newark; a daughter, Kathleen R. Safford and her husband Scott of Smyrna; six grandchildren, Mike Drayton, Chris Drayton, Drew West, Jeff Whisler, Lindsay Robinson and Josh West; and two great-grandchildren, Dillon West and Tyler West.
Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Sunday in Christ Episcopal Church, State and Water streets, Dover.
Burial with military honors will be in the church yard.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Christ Episcopal Church; the American Heart Association, Walker Road, Dover, DE 19904; or a charity of choice.
Arrangements by Trader Funeral Home, Dover.
DOVER - Retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Joshua T. West of Lewes, formerly of Dover, died Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007, in Beebe Medical Center, Lewes. He was 91.
Gen. West was born Nov. 21, 1915, in Millsboro, son of the late Henry J. and Eva (Wells) West.
He graduated from Millsboro High School in 1933, and University of Delaware in 1938, where he was president of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity, member of the Court of Honor, student manager of the varsity football team and business manager of the Blue Hens.
Gen. West was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Dover.
He worked for Retail Credit Co. out of Dover from 1938 to 1940. From 1946 to 1948 he worked with the Veterans Administration in the Dover office. He retired form the Delaware Department of Transportation in 1977, after 29 years of services.
Gen. West was past president of the Ten-Year Club and past president of the Credit Union.
He entered the U.S. Army Reserves as a second lieutenant in 1938. He served with the Delaware National Guard from 1940 until 1974, including five and a half years of active duty during World War ll. He retired with the rank of brigadier general. He received the Delaware's Conspicuous Service Cross three times.
In 1986 the Delaware National Guard chose Gen. West as their "honoree" for that year and on May 12, 1986, at the Governor's Day Ceremonies, he was awarded the state's highest award for outstanding military performance - the Conspicuous Service Cross with a Second Bronze Star.
He was a charter member and past president of the DelVets of World War II, a 32nd degree mason with Union Lodge 7, and past president of the state Department of Transportation Trowel Club. He was man of the year in the mid-1950s with the Dover Rotary.
Gen. West was a member of the Caesar Rodney board of education from 1963 to 1982, serving as president the majority of those years. He was past president of Delaware School Boards Association. On Aug. 20, 1983, the Delaware School Boards Association presented him with the Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Education.
He was active in Little League and Pony League programs since 1955, and provided service as a coach, manager, umpire and past president of each league.
He married Frances Handy in 1937; she died in 1999.
Gen. West was a loving companion to Wilsie Haber of Lewes.
He is survived by two sons, William G. West and his wife Jacki of Medina, Ohio, and James S. West and his wife Nancy of Newark; a daughter, Kathleen R. Safford and her husband Scott of Smyrna; six grandchildren, Mike Drayton, Chris Drayton, Drew West, Jeff Whisler, Lindsay Robinson and Josh West; and two great-grandchildren, Dillon West and Tyler West.
Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Sunday in Christ Episcopal Church, State and Water streets, Dover.
Burial with military honors will be in the church yard.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Christ Episcopal Church; the American Heart Association, Walker Road, Dover, DE 19904; or a charity of choice.
Arrangements by Trader Funeral Home, Dover.
