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Helen Warnick West, 1919-2008
For many years, Mrs. West was one of the best known residents of Sunny Hills. Her husband was Bill West, and their children were Mike, Nedra, Ann, Jeff and David.  

 

Daily Herald of Utah, December 30, 2008

Helen Warnick West

Helen Warnick West , age 89, passed away peacefully in her sleep Tuesday 25 November 2008 in Ivans, Utah from complication from a fall. She follows her husband in death, William J. West who died Dec. 14, 2003. She has five children, Mike (William Myron), Natalie (Nedra), Ann Jeanette, Jeffrey and David Wilford, 15 grand children and 7 great grandchildren., and also a surviving brother Stephen L. Warnick.

Helen was born 8 February 1919 in the small soft rock house on the farm in Manila, Utah. She was the sixth child of seven born in that house to Wilford and Jeanette Warnick. Wilford died 10 Dec 1944. Jeanette died 14 May 1968.

To use her own words, "I can't imagine a better time or place for anyone to grow up, than on a farm in Manila in the 1920's and 30's. I can remember the feeling I had, walking up our lane, being very sorry for everyone who had to live anywhere else in the world. Surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents at whose homes we were all at home, surrounded by love, and peace, and safety. I remember especially our pony, Betsy and the mounting platform Grandfather Warnick build so I could come and go at will."

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And come and go she did. She married William J. West about a week after his return from a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to New England as he had enrolled at MIT. While he finished his degree and work in the radiation laboratories developing Radar for WWII, Helen worked at Harvard University, then at radio station WORL not only as secretary but as their advertisement and art department.

In her words again, "After the war, we headed West, Bill enrolled at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Besides his studies, Bill had a teaching fellowship, and also was called as a counselor in the Bishopric of Pasadena Ward at the age of 28. I worked as secretary to the president of Mather's Department store until the day before Mike, our first child was born, on the evening Bill passed his last big 8-hour exam for his Ph.D. Good timing."

Mike, Nedra and Ann were born in Pasadena but in 1952 they moved to Fullerton, Cal, where they called home for 50 years. They loved the ocean and never wanted to leave.

Again her words, "Throughout the years I have had much satisfaction and growth serving in various church offices, beginning with Sunday School teacher at age 14. In both stake and ward I have served as Primary Chorister, Relief Society Cultural Refinement leader, MIA Activity Counselor and President and Junior Sunday School Coordinator. My great joy has been working with the youth in roadshows, dance festivals and girls camp and handicraft. I worked with Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies, and Campfire girls and in many offices in PTA, including President at Wilshire Junior High." But of all the service in the church, her favorite was the last one with her husband Bill as primary teachers in the deaf ward in Fullerton.

Memorial Services will be held Saturday, January 3rd in Pleasant Grove at 11am at the Olpin Family Mortuary. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Alzheimer's Research in memory of William.

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