Plainfield, NH - George W. West IV - On June 30th we said farewell to our Dad/Grampa/Brother/Uncle. With the caring help of Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice, we talked to him and stayed close. We told stories about him and related stories he had told to us.  Since he was 93, there was a lot to share.

Born January 16, 1926 in Philadelphia George lived with his parents, George and Laura (McDaniel) West, his younger sister Laura and their Granny McDaniel.  They moved often during the Depression years and sometimes shared their home with an aunt…a cousin…an uncle.  George went to schools in the Tacony area -walking, biking or riding the trolley car. He graduated from Frankford High School.  In 1943, at age 17, he enlisted in the Navy. George attended classes at Bloomsburg State Teachers, Duke University and the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. His active duty was aboard the USS Portsmouth out of Norfolk, Virginia.

George was married September 3, 1950 to Gertrude Reade of Weare, NH.  During their 64 years together, they raised four children, moving from Pennsylvania to Ohio and then settling in New Hampshire. George settled so well, he spent time as a New Hampshire Auxiliary State Trooper. For some years he was a Plainfield ballot clerk and supervisor of the check list. George lived on Route 12-A for 57 years.

To say George liked cars is a bit of understatement. He owned many, many vehicles. His first was a 1936 Olds and it needed a lot of tinkering.  No problem, working under the hoods of cars became second nature. Eventually, in partnership with his son George, he ran an auto repair garage.

Before retiring and becoming a 'paid' mechanic, George started work as a tabulating machine operator, the forerunner of computers. Offered a job with Goodyear, he was on the ground floor as computers came on line for big businesses. When a position came available for running Goodyear's Windsor, VT plant's payroll, George transferred from the Ohio office. At one time he taught a computer course for adult education classes.The interest in cars, also, involved a love of driving. The whole family loaded up for road trips to Florida during spring break, across the country in summer vacation and all the way to Alaska (when the Alcan Highway was unpaved) -twice (the second time to celebrate George and Gertrude's 50th anniversary). These station wagon trips covered every state but Hawaii.

Books were George's great link to how the world runs, his curiosity went far beyond mechanics.  A visit and chat with George was a chance to learn and follow his inquiring mind. How we miss those talks.

George is survived by his four children : George West of Plainfield, NH, Diane Rogers (Richard) of Plainfield, NH, Julianne West (Jim) of Windsor, VT and Evelyn Brown (Robert) of Chelsea, VT. His six grandsons : Justin Rogers (Katie), Travis Brown, Ian Rogers (Amanda), Tyler Brown (Emma), Leon Rogers (Corina) and Quentin Rogers (Aimee). Five great grandchildren : Brian and Sophia Rogers, Carter and Hunter Rogers, Olivia Rogers. George's sister Laura Johnston of Warrington, PA. Many nieces and nephews. His wife Gertrude West, his daughter-in-law Linda West and his infant grandson Zachary Rogers predeceased him.

Burial will be in the Plain Cemetery in Plainfield, NH.

Donations in George W. West's memory may be made to Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice or VNA of NH & VT or to a charity of one's choice.