Charles H. West, 76

MILFORD - Charles H. West of Milford and Hidden Lake, Palm Harbor, Fla., died Saturday, June 9, 2007, in Milford, after a short illness. He was 76.

Mr. West was born in Milford, son of the late Herman C. and Ethel (Warren) West.

He was a graduate of Milton High School.

Mr. West and his wife, the late Lorraine B. West, owned and operated Charles H. West Farms Inc. They founded their business in 1953 with the purchase of their home farm, a parcel of 155 acres of land that they expanded into one of the largest agribusinesses in the northeastern United States, employing more than 200 people and harvesting more than 15,000 acres, primarily of vegetables, in 2001.

In 1975, because of diminishing markets for vegetables and distance hauling, Mr. and Mrs. West purchased Delagra Corp., a vegetable processing and freezing plant which they owned and operated for 22 years until they sold the business in 1998.

Mr. West always had a keen interest in farming practices that made him a worthy custodian of the land. An interest in innovative farming practices and conservation contributed to his achieving much recognition and many awards including the Outstanding Young Farmer From Delaware in 1960, 25 Ton Tomato Club in 1961, Outstanding Soil Conservation-Kent County in 1964, Delaware Farmer of the Year for the Milford Chamber in 1978, Outstanding Service AS Director and V.P. Agribusiness Milford Chamber of Commerce in 1979 and 1986, West Tract (Nature Preserve) Murderkill River District (Donated) in 1988 and Delaware Farm Bureau Family of the Year in 1997.

Community service was important to Mr. West. He served in the Army National Guard as a sergeant in the motor pool. He also served on school boards for 15 years. He served on the Highway Commission (later known as Council on Transportation) for many years. He served as Chairman of Delaware State ASCS Committee for 12 years under several Presidential Cabinet Secretaries of Agriculture.

In 1988, he received the UDSA-ASCS Administrators Award for Service to Agriculture for Distinguished Individual Achievement for establishing policy and leadership, guiding Delaware to significant improvements in county staffing and workload accomplishments.

Mr. West was a member of the Milford Grange and the Delaware Farm Bureau. He was active in the Delaware Republican Party and was instrumental in the party"s fund raising efforts. He was an active, lifetime member of Calvary United Methodist Church, Milford. He was also a member of Temple Lodge 9 of Milford, the Tall Cedars of Lebanon Evergreen Forest 49, the Milford Elks Lodge 2401 and the Harrington Moose Lodge.

He spent many summers at Primehook Beach, and enjoyed boating, waterskiing, fishing and clamming. He also enjoyed cruises, horse and dog racing, NASCAR, investing, and country music.

Mr. West had a terrific sense of humor and brought smiles and laughter to many. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and was dedicated to all of his family.

He was preceded in death by his first wife of 50 years, Lorraine B. West, in 2001; and his brother, Lewis Warren West, in 2002.

Mr. West is survived by his loving wife, Frances E. West; two sons, Stanley West and Steven West, both of Milford; one daughter, Sandra Mitchell of Grasonville, Md.; five grandchildren, Janelle Layton, Jolene Dickerson, Darren Webb, Maura West and Clay West; and one great-grandson, Emerson Layton.

Services will be 3 p.m. Friday at Calvary United Methodist Church, 301 SE Front St., Milford, where friends may call at the church from noon to 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Charles H. West Endowed Scholarship Fund, c/o Mr. Ed Kee, University of Delaware, 16483 County Seat Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947.

Arrangements by Lofland Funeral Home, Milford.