Roy W. West

In Loving Memory of

ROY WARREN WEST

March 9, 1934 - October 30, 2022

Roy Warren West of Philadelphia, PA died on Sunday, October 30, 2022.  He was 88 years old.

Born in Philadelphia, Roy was the son of the late Robert Murray West and Ethel (nee Povlick) West.  Roy is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Donna (nee Marva) West.  He was the devoted father of Joshua Robert West.  He was the cherished grandfather of Graisyn Thomas Marva West and Claire Pearl West.  Roy is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Marcy Hohenadel West.  Roy was predeceased by his four brothers,   Robert Murray West, Jr., Wilson West, William (Bill) Eckard, and John (Jack) Eckard.  

Roy was a graduate of Dickinson College, Class of 1956.   He earned his Masters-Degree from Temple University.

Roy was a veteran who joined the Navy in 1957 and served for 6 years on active duty as a Commissioned Officer; after which he became part of the Naval Reserves.   He retired his Naval Commission after twenty one years with the rank of Lieutenant. He subsequently enlisted in the PA Army National Guard‘s First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, also known as the First City Troop, as a Sergeant.  He retired from the military for the final time in 1994 after thirty-seven years.

Roy had a wide range of talents and interests.  He was a devoted family man, talented singer, writer, educator, business owner, avid stamp and coin collector, history buff and patriot.  As a singer, he was a baritone who sang for fun at Gino’s Italian Opera Bar on Walnut Street.  As an author he wrote and had published four books including two action books:  “Code Name Moby Dick” and “Destroyer”.  He also wrote two books of limericks titled “Limerick for the Main Line – or the Art of Social Descending Made Easy” and “A Lilt in his Kilt”.  Additionally, he wrote a quarterly magazine on limericks.       As a business owner, he owned a men’s custom clothing store on Walnut Street for five years.  As an educator, he taught high school in the Philadelphia School System for approximately 15 years.

His love of history and patriotism ran deep through his genes and goes back to the 1700s as he was a direct descendant of John Hart, one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence.   As a result, Roy was a proud member of Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Sons of the Revolution.   He was also a member of the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Wars.  Roy was especially proud that his son Joshua, and grandson Graisyn, followed in his footsteps and became members of the Sons of the Revolution.   Additionally, Roy was also an Associate member of The Orpheus Club of Philadelphia, and a member of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia (NAS).