Mr. William F. “Bill” West, Sr., 88, of Cascade, MD, passed away October 31, 2025, in his home.
Born July 12, 1937, in Cascade, he was the son of the late Kelso and Pearl (Baker) West.
He graduated from Smithsburg High School with the Class of 1955. Known by his classmates as “Whiskers” and also as the shortest boy in class, he recently attended his 70th Class Reunion.
Mr. West served his country honorably in the MD Army National Guard 29th Division as an armorer and a mechanic. Having been stationed in Havre de Grace, MD, Highfield, MD, and Hagerstown, MD, he retired after 42 ½ years of proud service.
He was a life member of the Cascade American Legion Post #239, Blue Ridge Sportsmen’s Association and South Mountain Rod & Gun Club. In his earlier years, Mr. West enjoyed hunting. He enjoyed dancing, country music, and listening to local country bands. He was a patriotic individual and was very proud of all the years he served his country. Being born and raised on the “mountain”, he was very knowledgeable about Ft. Ritchie and PenMar Park history.
Mr. West is survived by his children, William F. West, Jr., and Tobie C. Davies and her husband, John of Fairfield, PA; his granddaughter, Heather A. Neff and her husband, Cory of Strasburg, VA; great-grandsons, Robert F. Neff, and Jacob A. Neff; one brother, Charles West and his wife, Marty of Hagerstown; his longtime companion Pauline Grimes; one niece, Teresa Dingle and her husband Wayne of Cascade; and two nephews, Timothy Olsen and his wife Lois of Thurmont, MD, and Barry West and his fiancé Laurie of Delray Beach, FL.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Robert L. West, and one sister, Doris Olsen.
The family wishes to thank Mr. West’s neighbors, Stella and Paul Sanders, for all the care they provided to him over the years. They also wish to thank Hospice of Washington County, especially nurses Krista Bentz and Marlene Black for their love and care for Bill during his final days.
The family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. to 12 Noon, Saturday, November 8, 2025, in Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, 50 S. Broad St., Waynesboro where a memorial service will begin at 12:00 Noon lead by Pastor Carl Fulmor. Burial will be private in Bethel Church Cemetery, Cascade.
Following the service, family and friends are welcome to attend a celebration of Bill’s life at the Cascade American Legion, 14418 MacAfee Hill Rd, Cascade, MD from 1:00 P.M. until 3:00 P.M.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Bill’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate or to the Leukemia Foundation at www.bloodcancerunited.org . Contributions can also be made to Hospice of Washington County, 1710 Underpass Way, Hagerstown, MD, 21740.
Arrangements are by Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro
