Harold Archie West

Harold Archie West, 82, of Elyria, died July 24, 2011, at his summer home in Ely, MN.

He was born March 28, 1929 in Cleveland and was a 1946 graduate of Elyria High School. Harold graduated from The Ohio State University in 1950 and The Ohio State University School of Law in 1954. While at Ohio State, he played trumpet and E flat coronet in The Ohio State Marching Band for five years. He participated in the ROTC program at Ohio State and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He served with the U.S. Army from March 27, 1951 until January 13, 1953 and received the Purple Heart while stationed in Korea as platoon leader of Company A 140th tank battalion

Harold joined the Bar Association in 1954 and worked with his father and brother in the law firm of West, West & West in Elyria. During his career, he was a director and attorney for Northern Savings & Loan Company, served on the public relations committee of the Ohio State Bar Association and was an Elyria City councilman from 1959 until 1965. He was a charter member of East Elyria Kiwanis Club and later joined Elyria Rotary Club, serving as president in 1976-77. He was a member of Elyria Lodge #787 F. & A.M., Elyria Country Club, First Congregational United Church of Christ, where he was a deacon and president of the board of trustees and was a member and served as trustee and president of the board of the Lorain County Historical Society.

His love of flying led him to serve for twenty-five years on the board of directors and numerous times as president of the Lorain County Airport Authority and he was also a trustee of the housing board for the Lorain County Board of Mental Retardation.

Harold is survived by daughters Laurie (Terry) Doan and Sharon (Greg) Elek, both of Elyria; son Scott (Donna) West of Columbus, OH; eleven grandchildren; five great grandchildren and a sister Marjorie Malina, of Springfield, OH.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Ann R. (nee Pealer) in 2007; parents Archie H. & Ethel M. West and brothers Roy A. and William W. West.

The family will receive friends Friday, August 5, 2011 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Dicken Funeral Home, 323 Middle Ave. Elyria, OH.

A service will be Saturday, August 6, 2011, 10:00 a.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 330 Second St. Elyria with Reverend Jerry L. Murphy officiating. Private burial will be in Brookdale Cemetery, Elyria. Memorial contributions may be made to Lorain County Animal Protective League, 8303 Murray Ridge Rd., Elyria, OH 44035 or the American Cancer Society, 10501 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44106.

For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.com

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