Herman Glen West

Herman was born March 6, 1930, in Crossett, Arkansas, to Joe and Edna West. After graduating from Crossett high school in 1948, he attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello on a football scholarship. In order to avoid being drafted into the Army, Herman joined the Air Force as an electronics specialist and was later selected for Officer Training School. As a Second Lieutenant, Herman trained as a navigator and later transitioned to a pilot flying everything from fighters to bombers. While training as a navigator, Herman met and married his beloved wife Patty Robinson in Houston, Texas, where she was a nurse at the Houston Memorial Hospital. They enjoyed traveling the world during which they had three wonderful children: Glen, Kay and Lisa. Herman retired after a successful 25-year career as a Lt. Colonel culminating with two tours of duty in Viet Nam.

Following the Air Force, Herman became a successful entrepreneur buying an Aamco Transmission Center in Fort Worth, Texas and soon expanding to three centers. After retiring from Aamco, he purchased 50 acres in Crowley, Texas, where he became a Gentleman rancher raising cows, horses and ostriches.

Herman enjoyed building/repairing things and NEVER bought anything new. It took him twice as long to finish a project because he would spend most of his time trying to find where he left his tools. He enjoyed working with his animals having had one of his horses compete in the Fort Worth Cutting Horse Futurity. He also enjoyed riding with the Moslah Shrine Mounties. His neighbors were known to get “anxious” when he burned his trash, with the fire department having to be called out on more than one occasion to put-out a fire. In his 60s Herman took up the sport of “jug-lining” at Lake Texoma, where he consistently brought home 40 to 60-pound catfish. Fish fry’s were a staple at the West Ranch.

The only thing Herman enjoyed more than his ranch was spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was the “go-to” guy for his neighbors, and was often called on to repair a faucet, fix a mower or even to get a cat out of a tree. After 52 years of marriage, his loving wife Patty died of cancer in 2004. Herman then married Lois Alexander O’Steen, and the two enjoyed ranch life until her death in 2021.

Gifts in lieu of flowers may be made in Herman’s memory to Wounded Warriors at support.woundedwarriorproject.org

Celebration of Life and Memorial Service: Laurel Land Chapel in Fort Worth, Texas on Tuesday, October 4 at 11:00 am. Visitation will be held at Laurel Land Monday, October 3 between 5 – 7 pm. Internment will be held at the DFW National Cemetery Friday, 7 October at 10:00 am.

Survivors: Children Glen West and wife Jane, Kay Brawner and husband Bob, and Lisa Harris; Grandchildren: Tyler and Kelsey West, Mitch Brawner and Tracie Brawner Kershner, Chris Harris and Trisha Harris Prellwitz; and several great grandchildren, nieces and nephews