1930
Albert
2022
Albert Paxton "Al" West
September 7, 1930 — December 15, 2022
Albert Paxton West of Lone Jack, Missouri passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by loved ones on December 15, 2022. He was 92 years old.
Al was born on September 7, 1930 to Harry Albert West and Violet Virginia Paxton in Chewelah, Washington. His early years were spent in the Pacific Northwest. Enlisting at the age of 16, he served six years of active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard during the Korean War. His assignments included search and rescue and two years in the South Pacific supporting long range navigation stations. This was followed by three years in the Coast Guard Reserves. Upon being honorably discharged from the Coast Guard, he married Carolyn Struck from Carrollton, Missouri, on February 22, 1953.
Al started his educational journey with a GED, having dropped out of high school to enter the Coast Guard. After graduating from Central Technical Institute in Kansas City, Missouri, Al worked as a broadcast television engineer for 16 years. In 1964, the Department of the Interior enlisted him to install and operate an educational television facility in American Samoa, leading Al to move his family to the island of Tutuila for two years.
Al felt the call to enter gospel ministry in 1970. At age 39, he and Carolyn moved to Springfield, Missouri with their four children. Al enrolled in Baptist Bible College and earned a Graduate of Theology degree. He also earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Christian Education at Freedom University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Freedom Seminary in Orlando, Florida.
Called to serve the Lord by planting a church, the Wests moved to Huntsville, Alabama, where they established Shiloh Baptist Church. Pastor and Mrs. West became pioneers in the Christian School Movement of Alabama by opening Lighthouse Christian Academy with 60 students. Later, Al became a Field Coordinator and Department Head of the Art Department at Accelerated Christian Education in Lewisville, Texas.
Pastor West received a call to lead New Testament Baptist Church in Pascagoula, Mississippi and established Pascagoula Christian School shortly after arriving. He later became the pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church and Baptist Christian Academy in Independence, Missouri, where he served for 20 years, retiring in 1999.
Al and Carolyn moved to Lone Jack, where they attended Lone Jack Baptist Church. He was an avid gardener and artist during his retirement. His mission field became his family and neighbors. Although his hearing and vision were greatly diminished, he never lost his vision for souls or failed to lend a listening ear to those seeking his counsel.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Struck West; their children Mindy Barrett (Bill) of Lone Jack, Mark West (Dana) of Nashville, Tennessee, Keith West (Kimberly) of Caddo Mills, Texas, and Joni DeMoss (Rod) of Lone Jack; grandchildren Kristy West, Whitnae Churman, Zack West, Morgan Crabtree, Douglas West, Britney Bartow, Hannah West-Penick and Blake Demoss; and great-grandchildren Harper Churman, Luke Churman, Ryker Bartow, Maggie Churman and Warren West-Penick.
We thank everyone for their support during this difficult time of loss for our family. Sadly, our mother, Carolyn West, has taken a turn for the worse, and she is not expected to last through the end of the week. We have opted as a family to cancel the Livestream memorial service scheduled for Thursday, December 29, and are having a private, in-home tribute for immediate family. Thank you so much for your prayers and words of encouragement. We will never forget it.
With Love,
The West Family
In lieu of flowers, Al’s favorite charities are:
Latitude Global Leadership Community (Leadership Development) https://www.latitudeglc.org/give
Theotherapy Project (Prison Ministry) https://theotherapyproject.com/donate/
Al was born on September 7, 1930 to Harry Albert West and Violet Virginia Paxton in Chewelah, Washington. His early years were spent in the Pacific Northwest. Enlisting at the age of 16, he served six years of active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard during the Korean War. His assignments included search and rescue and two years in the South Pacific supporting long range navigation stations. This was followed by three years in the Coast Guard Reserves. Upon being honorably discharged from the Coast Guard, he married Carolyn Struck from Carrollton, Missouri, on February 22, 1953.
Al started his educational journey with a GED, having dropped out of high school to enter the Coast Guard. After graduating from Central Technical Institute in Kansas City, Missouri, Al worked as a broadcast television engineer for 16 years. In 1964, the Department of the Interior enlisted him to install and operate an educational television facility in American Samoa, leading Al to move his family to the island of Tutuila for two years.
Al felt the call to enter gospel ministry in 1970. At age 39, he and Carolyn moved to Springfield, Missouri with their four children. Al enrolled in Baptist Bible College and earned a Graduate of Theology degree. He also earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Christian Education at Freedom University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Freedom Seminary in Orlando, Florida.
Called to serve the Lord by planting a church, the Wests moved to Huntsville, Alabama, where they established Shiloh Baptist Church. Pastor and Mrs. West became pioneers in the Christian School Movement of Alabama by opening Lighthouse Christian Academy with 60 students. Later, Al became a Field Coordinator and Department Head of the Art Department at Accelerated Christian Education in Lewisville, Texas.
Pastor West received a call to lead New Testament Baptist Church in Pascagoula, Mississippi and established Pascagoula Christian School shortly after arriving. He later became the pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church and Baptist Christian Academy in Independence, Missouri, where he served for 20 years, retiring in 1999.
Al and Carolyn moved to Lone Jack, where they attended Lone Jack Baptist Church. He was an avid gardener and artist during his retirement. His mission field became his family and neighbors. Although his hearing and vision were greatly diminished, he never lost his vision for souls or failed to lend a listening ear to those seeking his counsel.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Struck West; their children Mindy Barrett (Bill) of Lone Jack, Mark West (Dana) of Nashville, Tennessee, Keith West (Kimberly) of Caddo Mills, Texas, and Joni DeMoss (Rod) of Lone Jack; grandchildren Kristy West, Whitnae Churman, Zack West, Morgan Crabtree, Douglas West, Britney Bartow, Hannah West-Penick and Blake Demoss; and great-grandchildren Harper Churman, Luke Churman, Ryker Bartow, Maggie Churman and Warren West-Penick.
We thank everyone for their support during this difficult time of loss for our family. Sadly, our mother, Carolyn West, has taken a turn for the worse, and she is not expected to last through the end of the week. We have opted as a family to cancel the Livestream memorial service scheduled for Thursday, December 29, and are having a private, in-home tribute for immediate family. Thank you so much for your prayers and words of encouragement. We will never forget it.
With Love,
The West Family
In lieu of flowers, Al’s favorite charities are:
Latitude Global Leadership Community (Leadership Development) https://www.latitudeglc.org/give
Theotherapy Project (Prison Ministry) https://theotherapyproject.com/donate/
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Albert Paxton "Al" West, please visit our flower store.
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