Final Salute

Gerald “Jerry” Lloyd West, 93, passed away on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at Blue Ridge Hospice Inpatient Care Center, in Winchester, VA. Gerald was born in 1928 in Terlton, OK to the late Lloyd Orville West and Iva Iola (Van Zandt) West. Due to the economic impact of the “Dust Bowl” and better job opportunities further west, the family relocated to Eden, Idaho in 1936.

Gerald enlisted in the Navy in July 1946 at the age of 18. He spent the next 24 years serving his country as a Seabee in California, Maine, Alaska, Florida, Washington, D.C. and Rhode Island. He also had assignments abroad in Guam, Japan, Midway Island, Newfoundland and San Salvador. Gerald served three wartime tours, one in Korea and two in Vietnam where he received the Purple Heart. While stationed at Communications Station Winter Harbor Maine, he met and married Joan Marilyn Willey of Ellsworth, Maine and together they had four children. In 1970 he retired from the Navy and began his second career with the Central Intelligence Agency as a Facilities Engineer working until his retirement in 1989.

Gerald was an avid gardener. He enjoyed sharing his bountiful harvests and beautiful flowers with family and friends for many years. Gerald loved to hunt and roam through the mountains close to his retirement home in Woodstock, VA, and he especially enjoyed spending time with his family.

Gerald was preceded in death by his youngest daughter, Karen Louise Rhodes, his brother, William and four sisters; Mildred, Dorothy, Ruby Ann and Joyce. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Joan West; son, Richard West (Donna), daughter, Jerri Lynn Cook (Ed), son, Jeffrey West; grandchildren, Christina, Jeffrey, Andria, Ryan, Kevin, Eric and Melissa; great grandchildren, Audrey, Amelia, Emma and Annie; sister, Donna Beem (Kenneth) of Idaho and numerous nieces and nephews across the country.

Interment will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Gerald’s memory to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork Street, Suite 405, Winchester, Virginia 22601.

Please view obituaries and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com

To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published in Northern Virginia Daily on Feb. 20, 2021.