West, Harold M.

ZUNI, VA

Harold Mason West, 83, a resident of Zuni, passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at Consulate Healthcare in Windsor, VA. Born January 24, 1925, he was the son of the late Elonzo McKinley West, Sr., and Lucy Herrin West. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Alberta Wilkins West; two sons, Ronald M. West and wife Cindy and Donald T. West and wife Andrea, both of Zuni; six grandchildren, Rhonda, Lori, Chris, Donna, Wayne, and Marlana; six great-grandchildren, Harley, Michelle, Gabriel, Danielle, Olivia, and Rachel; and sister-in-law, Geraldine West of Williamsburg; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, E. M. West, Jr., and Raney H. West, and a sister-in-law, Lorraine West.

Harold was a 1944 graduate of Ivor High School, and on February 10, 1945, he married his sweetheart, Alberta. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as part of the occupation forces in Japan in 1945. Following the war, due to the premature death of his father, he took over the family farming operations in Southampton County, and also started farming on his own. He continued to farm until 1967. In 1960, Harold became part-time postal clerk of the Zuni office and later became clerk and postmaster of the Zuni Post Office. He retired in 1988 as a rural route carrier.

Harold lived his life according to the principles of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and was an exemplary Christian man, devoted to the wellbeing of his wife, his two sons, his daughters-in-law, his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren, and his many friends. He was a faithful, devoted, and dedicated member of Tucker Swamp Baptist Church for over 70 years. He had served as a deacon for over 40 years, church clerk for 35 years, and had taught the senior adult Sunday school class for over 40 years. At the time of his death, he was Deacon Emeritus of the church. He was a former member of the Zuni Ruritan Club, who loved to camp and share holiday meals with his family.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 18, 2008, at 2:00 p.m., at Tucker Swamp Baptist Church in Zuni. Dr. Rob Edwards and Rev. Lafayette T. Wilkins will preside. Burial, with military honors, will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at Purviance Chapel of J.T. Morriss Funeral Home, Wakefield, VA, on Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and at other times at the residence of Ronnie and Cindy West, 12452 Tucker Swamp Road, Zuni. The family will also receive friends in the Fellowship Hall of the church following the committal services on Friday.

Memorial donations may be made to Tucker Swamp Baptist Church Building Fund, 37527 Seacock Chapel Rd., Zuni, VA 23898. Condolences may be posted at our web site www.jtmorriss.com.