Mr. William Hanson “Bill” West, of Nelsonia, passed away peacefully at his residence on June 30, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was born on Sept. 11, 1921, in Modest Town, son of the late John Hanson “Hance” West and the late Blanche Bundick West. Following graduation from Bloxom High School in 1939, he began working as a surveyor for the Soil Conservation Service and later for the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company where he supported his country’s efforts during World War II. In 1944, he entered into service in the U.S. Navy on the U.S.S. Guadalcanal. Following his honorable discharge from military service in 1946, Mr. West enrolled at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VA Tech), graduating in 1950 with a degree in electrical and electronics engineering and began his engineering career at the Naval Aviation Ordnance Test Station (NAOTS) located on Wallops Island. In 1955, Mr. West began working for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), now NASA, from which he retired in 1978 as department head, Instrumentation Development.
Mr. West is survived by his wife of 69 years, Priscilla (Lankford) West; daughters, Susan Moran (Kevin) and Polly Johns; son, William Hanson “Hance” West Jr. (Jane); grandchildren, Sara Headrick (Matt), Carleton Johns (Kristin), Christopher Johns, Anna Moran (Danilo), Kate Moran (Loghman Fattahi), John Patrick “JP” West, and Alex West; three great-grandchildren, Parker Johns, Mary Headrick, and Davis Johns; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to his parents, Mr. West was predeceased by a brother, John B. “Jack” West Sr.
Services for Mr. West will be held Saturday, July 9, 2022, at 1 p.m., at Modest Town Baptist Church, Modest Town. Private burial, with military honors, will follow in the church cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the VA Tech College of Engineering, c/o Virginia Tech Foundation, University Gift Accounting Office, 902 Prices Fork Road, Mail Code 0336, Blacksburg, VA 24060, or to the charity of one’s choice.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
