WEST, James Emmett 85, of St. Petersburg, Fla., passed away Wednesday, November 14, 2007, at St. Anthony' s Hospital. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the 8th Air Force, 484 Heavy Bombardment Squad at Dorchestershire, England, as a navigator on B-17 Flying Fortresses. One of the medals he was awarded was the Purple Heart. He was a television engineer at WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va. for several years, helping them build the transmitter for the station. He and his wife and children moved to Florida in 1959, where he worked in master control at WTVT-TV as a television engineer for 26 years. During that time, he was an engineer with the tv crews, and assigned the privilege of recording the recoveries of astronauts John Glenn aboard the USS Randolph and Alan Shepard on the USS Wasp. For more than 20 years he served as trustee for the St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club. He was a member of St. Bede' s Episcopal Church and held the office of Junior Warden on the Vestry Committee. He dearly loved his family and was committed to taking care of them. He was preceded in death by his son, Philip Neil West. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Marjorie; daughter and son-in-law, Linda Kay and Graham Green; three grandsons, Jeffrey D. Green, Eric E. Green and his wife, Wendi, and Frank M. West and his wife, Kathy; and two great-granddaughters, Morgan K. and Erica M. Green. A visitation took place from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, November 17, at Anderson McQueen Funeral Home. A graveside service followed at Sunnyside Cemetery. Donations may be made to St. Bede' s Episcopal Church, your church or charity of your choice. Anderson McQueen Funeral Homes N.E. St. Petersburg Chapel (727) 822-2059
Published by TBO.com on 11/18/2007.