Obituary of Walter Robert West

Walter R. West of Lower Gwynedd, formerly of Abington and Cheltenham townships, died on March 13, 2016 at Spring House Estates, where he lived for 17 years. He was 91. Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Mathilda Glaeser and Forrest West. He was the husband of the late Ruth Kulp West for fifty years. He was also brother to Mildred and Wilbert West. Mr. West was a graduate of Northeast Public High School and of Lehigh University, Class of 1948, where he has remained active in the alumni association. Recently, he set up a fund to help students enrolled in the ROTC program there. Mr. West served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from December 1942 – December 1946 and was sent to a remote arctic weather station at Walrus Bay, Greenland, near the end of World War II. Due to the ocean ice that blocked entrance to their station, the men had to stay for an entire extra year after the war ended from August, 1945 until August, 1946. He therefore gained the distinction of being one of eleven men who were "The Last Men Out of the Arctic," and were also thus the last men to be discharged from active U.S. Military World War II service. He worked for 34 years at the former Bell of Pennsylvania, first as an engineer and then as a District Manager until he retired in 1982. Mr. West was a longtime active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Flourtown. He was also active in the Masons (Melita Lodge #295) since December 1949; Lulu Shrine since 1965; the Shriner's Legion of Honor since 1975; and the Masonic National Sojourners (veterans), 2001 to present. He was an avid traveler and amateur photographer who lived life to the fullest. He is survived by daughter Mindy West of Chevy Chase, MD.; son Robert West (sp. Sonya Capek) of Seattle, Washington; grandson Joshua Schwartzstein (sp. Diana) of Boston MA; granddaughter J. Rebecca Bagwell Purefoy (sp. Oliver Bagwell Purefoy), of London, UK and their daughter, Lily. He is also survived by his long-time special friend, Jean Manley. A memorial service will be held 11:00 am, Friday March 18, 2016 in the Auditorium of Springhouse Estates, 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd, PA, friends will be received after the service. Interment in Hillside cemetery will be held privately. Contributions in Mr. West's name may be sent to Shriner's Hospital of Children, 3551 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19140, (www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org) or Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111 (www.foxchase.org/giving/ways-give/donate-now)