Sidney "Red" West

Funeral services for Sidney "Red" West, 90 of Fort Sumner will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner, NM with Rev. Mike Stahl Officiating, burial with military honors provided by the U.S. Marine Corps will follow at Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Matthew West, Jacob West, Caleb West, Adam West, Reed Kenyon, and Joe Burds. Honorary bearers will be the Wardlaw family of Little Rock, Arkansas. Visitation hours will be Monday from 1pm to 6pm at Chavez Funeral Home. Sidney Ross West, known to his family and friends as "Red" passed away June 11, 2015 at Angel Arms Assisted Living in Lubbock, Texas following an illness. He was born November 24, 1924 in Fort Sumner to the home of Add Clyn and Gracie (Lawson) West. He grew up in Fort Sumner where he attended school. Following graduation Red farmed for one year before entering the United States Marine Corps on June 19, 1944 at Santa Fe, NM. His special military qualifications were as an Automatic Rifleman, and Military Police. He was on the Beach of Iwo Jima from February 19th to March 16th. On March 10, 1945 he was Wounded In Action at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands. He served in the Pacific from November 16, 1944 until April 30, 1946. His citations and decorations include the Good Conduct Medal, and a Purple Heart for wounds received in action. He was honorably discharged on May 8, 1946 in San Diego, CA. Red married Margaret "Peg" Ruth Schultz on October 7, 1947, they were married for 66 years. Red returned to Fort Sumner where he farmed and ranched. He was instrumental in developing the Bosque Redondo Lake in the Fort Sumner valley. He always attended his son and grandson's sport events and was a strong supporter of Fox and Vixen athletics. Red was a member of First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner, a member of Disabled American Veterans Post #6 in Clovis and a past member of Albuquerque D.A.V. Red is preceded in death by his wife Margaret "Peg" West on July 1, 2014, his parents, all 7 of his siblings, sisters Ozelle Howe, Addie Whittington, brothers Woodrow West, Vane West, Denton West, Jake West, and Cecil West. Survivors include his son William "Bill" West and his wife Sherrie of Fort Sumner, four grandsons Matthew West (Toni) of Lubbock, TX, Jacob West of Hope, NM, Caleb West of Fort Sumner, and Adam West of Clovis, two great grandchildren, Carson Ross West and Chloe Grace West, along with a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Red is also survived by a fellow Marine he met in a fox hole on Iwo Jima, Fay Wardlaw. They shared a foxhole for 34 days during the battle of Iwo Jima and have remained friends for the past 70 years. The family prefers memorial contributions to the Fort Sumner Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 180, Fort Sumner, NM 88119. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, NM (575) 355-2311.