Tributes

Mr. Walter Truman West, Jr., 86 left his temporary home in New Bern, NC for his eternal home in Heaven on August 26, 2017 after an extended illness. Born in Myrtle Beach, SC on September 25, 1930, Walter was the eldest of the late Walter Truman West, Sr. and Lula Jane Watts' seven children. He was a member of the last class to graduate from Socastee High School with only eleven grades. He attended a semester at Columbia Business College in Columbia, SC before returning home to help his family. Walter married his lifelong family friend and high school sweetheart, Joanne Sarvis, on July 16, 1950 at Sweetwater Branch Baptist Church in Conway, SC. Joanne supported him throughout his 20 year career in the United States Air Force where he retired as a Special Agent for the Office of Special Investigations. Walter's family spent their final seven years in the service at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, TX. They left a piece of their hearts in San Angelo to return to their large families in Myrtle Beach, where Walter worked for 20 more years before retiring (again) as a Loan Officer/Vice President from Coastal Federal Savings Bank. During his careers and especially after retirement, Walter devoted much of his time to serving his Lord by serving those in his church families as a Sunday School teacher, Deacon and in other areas as needed, beginning with Park Heights Baptist in San Angelo and finally with Forestbrook Baptist in Myrtle Beach. He is survived by his children, Sonja Joanne West Barbarich (Stan) of Sausalito, CA, Walter "Walt" Truman West, III (Sylvia) of Myrtle Beach, and Nannette West Gaylord (Graham) of New Bern, NC; two grandsons, Robert Anthony "Tony" West and Patrick Graham Gaylord; two granddaughters, Kiersten Joanne Gaylord Baumgardner (Seth) and Carinna Keli Gaylord; four great-grandsons, Nick Hayes of VA, Wade, Donovan and Simon West, all of Myrtle Beach; brothers, Donald Wayne West, Sr. (Katherine) of Conway and Thomas Earl "Tommy" West (Annice) of Myrtle Beach; sisters-in-law, Jane Sarvis Ammons of Linville, NC, Lindy Sarvis Bryan of Charleston, SC, and Sandra Herring West of Myrtle Beach; brother-in-law Samuel "Sammy" Sarvis (Marge) of Lehigh Acres, FL, and many loving nieces and nephews. Walter was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Joanne Sarvis West; granddaughter, Ginger Lynn West Hayes; and four siblings, Sarah Lou West Duncan, Agnes Hazeltine West Clardy, Franklin Eugene West and Joseph Randall West, Sr. A funeral service will be held at Forestbrook Baptist Church on Wednesday, August 30 at 1:00PM, officiated by Dr. Randal E. Helms, Dr. Freddie M. Young, and Dr. Gene S. Ammons. Burial with military honors will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel, from 5:00PM-7:00PM on Tuesday, August 29, 2017. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Craven County Hospice, Craven County Health Department Foundation, P.O. Drawer 12610, New Bern, NC 28561. Please sign the online guest register at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel, is serving the family.

Tributes

Walter Truman West Jr.

September 25, 1930 - August 26, 2017