William “Billy” West

William “Billy” West, 89, of Atlanta, who died on December 20, 2011. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, the Rev. Frances McQuarie West. He is survived by his daughters, Jean Alhadeff of Atlanta, Nina West (Steve Addison) of Atlanta, and Aran West of Syracuse, New York; son, Todd West (Rebecca) of Florence, Alabama, and 6 grandchildren. Billy was born and raised in McCurtain, Oklahoma. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force 1943-1945, earned a BS degree from the University of Oklahoma and served in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Public Health Service. He earned his MA/Mycology from Vanderbilt University, and worked as Research Mycologist for CDC, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta until 1956. He was a microbiologist for CDC in Atlanta from 1961 to 1972, earning his PhD in Microbiology from the University of Oklahoma in 1962 retiring in 1972. He and his wife then attended Georgia State University earning masters degrees in Community Counseling. Bill and his family were long time members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, 1911 Cliff Valley Way NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30329. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the William Joseph West Endowment fund, c/o: Eastern Oklahoma State Foundation, 1301 W. Main, Wilburton, Oklahoma 74578 or to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, 1911 Cliff Valley Way NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30329.