GALION — Earl A. West, 84, entered into the presence of his Lord Jesus Christ on April 1, 2009.
He was born Dec. 5, 1924, in Morrow County to the late Verner E. West and Florence Sayre West Ulrey. He was a graduate of Marengo High School. He was baptized in September 1933, and an active member of the Chester Baptist Church his entire life, where he taught Sunday school.
Earl was 13 when his father died and he took over the operation of the family farm with his mother and hired hands — milking cows and hurrying to change clothes and catch the school bus every morning. With all of this, he remained a good student.
He was an erector at H.P.M. for many years and also served several terms as a Harmony Township trustee. Farming was Earl’s life and he spent many hours on his tractor and raising animals.
He enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow and throwing or kicking the ball with them. Even after an extended illness, his eyes would light up when they walked in for a visit and he would always be ready to ask about their latest sporting event.
He married Margaret Mills (who survives in Galion) on Feb. 14, 1964, and they had one daughter, Melanie (Andrew) Studer of Galion. In addition to his wife and daughter, he is also survived by three grandchildren, Jordan Ann, Nicholas and Mason Studer; a sister, Crystal (Roy) Cook of Newark, and their children, John (Wilma) Cook of Rochester, N.Y., and Jane (Rod) McKee of Hanover; and a stepbrother, Donald (Jane) Ulrey of Chesterville.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Juanita (William) Powers; and a stepsister, Bertha (Loren) Linder.
The West family will greet friends today from 6 to 8 p.m. at Snyder Funeral Home, 76 S. Main St., Mount Gilead, with services following immediately at 8 p.m. with his nephew, the Rev. John Cook officiating. Burial will be held Saturday, April 4, at 10 a.m. at Mound View Cemetery in Mount Vernon.
Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to the Morrow County Fair, P.O. Box 168, Mount Gilead, OH 43338. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
