Published: July 13, 2007 10:05 am      

John E. West

John E. West, 79, of Danville, passed away at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 11, 2007, at his home. He was born April 22, 1928, in Danville, the son of James and Gladys (Manley) West. He married Martha J. Scarlett on July 18, 1953, in Danville. She survives. John is also survived by one son: James West III (Norma Curry) of Danville; three daughters: Jacqueline “Suzi” West (Michael Sroufek) of Tilton, Connie Housley (Doug) of Fort Worth, Texas, Kathy Peck (Vern) of Atlanta, Ga.; two brothers: William West (Joan) of Danville and James Jr. West (Jackie) of Covington; one sister: Joyce Long (Bill) of Covington, Ind.; 10 grandchildren: Brandy Martin (J.W.), Mindy Hobbs (Peyton), Jessie Lomax (Patrick Ablinger), Jacob West, Ryan Peck, Sarah Ruggles, Jerrod Ruggles, Stevie Housley, Jordan Housley and Dylan Housley; five great-grandchildren: John Logan Hobbs, Josiah Martin, Kendall Hobbs, Emma Grace Martin and Quinton Ablinger; special friends: Dick Varner, Mike and Wanda West; and his two care-givers: Cindy Watson and Missy Bogart. John was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter: Cindy Lou West, and one sister: Mary Frew.

John served as a cook in the Army Air Corps. He later worked as an operator at Lauhoff until he had to medically retire after the explosion there in 1981. John was an avid Cubs fan and enjoyed playing euchre and fishing for bass. He liked to sing and dance. John loved cooking. His specialties where BBQ Ribs and Italian Beef. He was a union steward at Lauhoff and was a member of the American Legion and VFW.

What Are Fathers Made of?

A father is a thing that is forced to endure childbirth without an anesthetic.

A father is a thing that growls when it feels good — and laughs very loud when it’s scared half to death.

A father never feels entirely worthy of the worship in a child’s eyes. He’s never quite the hero his daughter thinks, never quite the man his son believes him to be- and this worries him, sometimes.

So he works too hard to try and smooth the rough places in the road for those of his own who will follow him.

A father is a thing that gets very angry when the first school grades aren’t as good as he thinks they should be. He scolds his son though he knows it’s the teacher’s fault.

Fathers are what give daughters away to other men who aren’t nearly good enough so they can have grandchildren who are smarter than anybody’s.

Fathers make bets with insurance companies about who’ll live the longest. Though they know the odds, they keep right on betting. And one day they lose.

I don’t know where fathers go when they die. But I’ve an idea that after a good rest, wherever it is, he won’t be happy unless there’s work to do.

He won’t just sit on a cloud and wait for the girl he’s loved and the children she bore.

He’ll be busy there, too, repairing the stairs, oiling the gates, improving the streets, smoothing the way. — By Paul Harvey.

A celebration of the life of John West will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 14, 2007, at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center of Danville with Wade Martin officiating. Burial will follow at Spring Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Friday, July 13, 2007, at the funeral home. Memorials can be made in John’s name to Disabled American Veterans or Springfield Memorial Hospital Burn Unit. E-mail condolences may be sent to John’s family at: www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

  
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