Obituary for George Thomas West
George Thomas West, 84, of Canyon, passed away on Thursday, December 15, 2022. Memorial services will be at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, December 19, 2022 at the First Presbyterian Church in Amarillo with Sean Blacksten and Murray Gossett, associate pastor, officiating. Public interment will be in Dreamland Cemetery on Monday at 10:30 A.M. The family will receive friends from 3:00 to 4:00 P.M. on Sunday, December 18, 2022 at Brooks Chapel in Canyon.
George was born on June 11, 1938 in Coffeyville, Kansas to Daniel and Margaret (O’Connell) West. He grew up in Corpus Christi and graduated from high school there. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics at St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas in 1961.
After teaching two years in high school, George was offered a scientist position at what is today the Department of Energy’s Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas. His work included research and development with high explosives that are used in today’s nuclear weapons. The last 20 years of his career at Pantex were devoted to highly classified intelligence activities, and George served as a member of a team that was awarded 2 National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citations by the Director of Central Intelligence.
During the 1990’s, George was a member of several delegations involving technical visits to nuclear weapon related facilities in Russia and in England. In 1992, he served as an expert consultant for the 14th IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) inspection in Iraq, under the supervision of the UN Security Council. He retired from Pantex in 2005 after 42 years of service. He was re-hired at Pantex in 2006 as a contractor consultant analyst in the Office of Counterintelligence, finally retiring again at the end of 2010.
George joined the Panhandle Plains Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution in 1993, and proved seven supplemental ancestors, including two women. He has been awarded numerous medals by his chapter and the Texas Society. George held offices at chapter, state, and national levels. He served as TXSSAR State President from 2007-2008.
George became a pilot in 1971, which was his childhood dream, and was an active member of the Civil Air Patrol. He was also a member of the Confederate Air Force and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo, where he served as an usher and enjoyed serving on the Welcoming Committee.
George loved flying, photography, reading, and sitting on the porch watching sunsets. He was passionate about genealogy research and writing his family history. He played baseball as a child and loved watching the Texas Rangers.
George is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, James William West, and Daniel Cornelius West.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Judy West of Canyon; their 8 children, Thomas Joseph West of Haltom City, TX, Paul Gregory West and wife, Pam of Texarkana, TX, Theresa Ann West of Amarillo, Carolyn Jean West of Amarillo, Catherine Marie Brock and husband, Mark of Amarillo, Robert Henry West and wife, Leslie of Amarillo, Sean Carl Blacksten and wife, Shelley of Panama City, Panama, and Mark Jason Blacksten and wife, Dalena of Amarillo; ten grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. George is also survived by the mother of his children, Carole McKnight of Amarillo.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 52405, Amarillo, TX 79124, BSA Hospice of the Southwest, 5211 SW 9th Avenue, Suite 100, Amarillo, TX 79106, the First Presbyterian Church, 1100 S. Harrison St., Amarillo, TX 79101, or a charity of choice in George’s memory.
George was born on June 11, 1938 in Coffeyville, Kansas to Daniel and Margaret (O’Connell) West. He grew up in Corpus Christi and graduated from high school there. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics at St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas in 1961.
After teaching two years in high school, George was offered a scientist position at what is today the Department of Energy’s Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas. His work included research and development with high explosives that are used in today’s nuclear weapons. The last 20 years of his career at Pantex were devoted to highly classified intelligence activities, and George served as a member of a team that was awarded 2 National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citations by the Director of Central Intelligence.
During the 1990’s, George was a member of several delegations involving technical visits to nuclear weapon related facilities in Russia and in England. In 1992, he served as an expert consultant for the 14th IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) inspection in Iraq, under the supervision of the UN Security Council. He retired from Pantex in 2005 after 42 years of service. He was re-hired at Pantex in 2006 as a contractor consultant analyst in the Office of Counterintelligence, finally retiring again at the end of 2010.
George joined the Panhandle Plains Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution in 1993, and proved seven supplemental ancestors, including two women. He has been awarded numerous medals by his chapter and the Texas Society. George held offices at chapter, state, and national levels. He served as TXSSAR State President from 2007-2008.
George became a pilot in 1971, which was his childhood dream, and was an active member of the Civil Air Patrol. He was also a member of the Confederate Air Force and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo, where he served as an usher and enjoyed serving on the Welcoming Committee.
George loved flying, photography, reading, and sitting on the porch watching sunsets. He was passionate about genealogy research and writing his family history. He played baseball as a child and loved watching the Texas Rangers.
George is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, James William West, and Daniel Cornelius West.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Judy West of Canyon; their 8 children, Thomas Joseph West of Haltom City, TX, Paul Gregory West and wife, Pam of Texarkana, TX, Theresa Ann West of Amarillo, Carolyn Jean West of Amarillo, Catherine Marie Brock and husband, Mark of Amarillo, Robert Henry West and wife, Leslie of Amarillo, Sean Carl Blacksten and wife, Shelley of Panama City, Panama, and Mark Jason Blacksten and wife, Dalena of Amarillo; ten grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. George is also survived by the mother of his children, Carole McKnight of Amarillo.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 52405, Amarillo, TX 79124, BSA Hospice of the Southwest, 5211 SW 9th Avenue, Suite 100, Amarillo, TX 79106, the First Presbyterian Church, 1100 S. Harrison St., Amarillo, TX 79101, or a charity of choice in George’s memory.