Loy West, 87, Piqua, died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, at Yates Center Health and Rehab Center.
Loy was born on May 30, 1928 at Neosho Falls, the son of John and Esther (Hammond) West. He grew up and attended Neosho Falls schools until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17.
He loved to tell about the years in Pearl Harbor and the Pacific Islands where he was on the USS Chickasaw that participated in the bomb tests of Baker and Able. He told how they towed damaged ships back to the harbor and washed them down to get rid of the contamination.
After his discharge from the Navy, Loy returned home. He met and married his wife, Marita Scheibmeir on May 28, 1952, at St. Martin’s Church in Piqua. They lived in Neosho Falls for a short time before moving to their home in Piqua where they have lived since 1958. They raised three children, daughters, Kathy Kress and Angie Stoner and son, Tim West, all of Yates Center.
Loy was employed all his working years in the oil fields of Woodson County, the last 30 of those for the James Russell Petroleum company. He was a life member of the Piqua Knights of Columbus and the St. Martin’s Catholic Church at Piqua where he served as a Grand Knight and was also on the St. Martin’s Church Council. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 13 at Yates Center.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Lela Southard.
He is survived by his wife, Marita, children, Kathy, Angie, Tim and his wife, Cathy; a brother, George West (Annie) of Humboldt; grandchildren, Scott Kress (Carol), James Eisenbart (Tisha), Kelly Kress Petit (Cody), Ashley Eisenbart Stenzel (Bryan), and Eric Smith (Loni); great-grandchildren, Alexa Eisenbart, Hadyn Beerbower-Kress, Nate Eisenbart, Rylee Stenzel, Peyton Petit, Addie Smith, Loryn Kress, Bo Smith, Paxton Petit and Ellie Eisenbart; and step great-grandchildren Porter and Kinsley Morrison and many relatives.
Parish rosary will be recited at 10 a.m., Thursday, at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Piqua, followed by the celebration of the mass at 10:30. Burial will follow in St. Martin’s Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to St. Martin’s Cemetery Fund or Allen County Animal Rescue Facility (ACARF) and may be left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel in Iola. To sign the guestbook online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
Loy West
