George R. West

George Russell West, age 97, passed away December 27, 2020. He was born March 28, 1923 to Frank Bradburn West and Otelia Miller West at his childhood home on Southeastern Avenue in Indianapolis, IN. George was a 1941 graduate of Arsenal Tech High School. He was fortunate to have taken vocational architectural drafting in school, leading him to an office boy position for 25 cents an hour with McGuire & Shook Architecture and Engineering firm as a high school Senior.

His college studies were interrupted by World War II. George served as a Master Sergeant in the Intelligence core for the 86th Infantry Division. This Division was engaged in the battles of the Rhine, the Rumr and Bavaria and captured over 53,000 German soldiers. George received a Silver Star, Field Decoration in Gongolding Germany for conducting a night reconnaissance mission behind German lines. In 2009, the French government awarded him the National Order of Legion Honour for participating in the liberation of France. After victory in Europe, his Division was ordered to the Pacific as an Amphibious Infantry Division scheduled for a D-day invasion of mainland Japan. He remarked on several occasions how proud he was of a small bar/canteen he designed and helped build in the Philippines for the soldiers, and how happy he was when President Truman acted decisively to end the war, saving his and many other lives. After V-J Day, the soldiers' bar/canteen was heavily used as the Division waited months for the long ship ride home.

After the war, George returned to the University of Cincinnati, his Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and his love of design and construction. Under the GI Bill, he finished his BS in Architecture in 1949. He spent his entire professional career in Indianapolis with McGuire & Shook selling ("you got to sell 'em first") and designing hospitals, schools, and other civic facilities throughout the Midwest. He was proud of starting there as a young office boy, and 46 years later retiring as firm Chairman - CEO in 1987.

George was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Rita Reynolds West - a devoted mother and former member of the Indiana University School of Nursing faculty teaching chemistry, anatomy and physiology to nursing students during World War II through 1954.

He and Rita retired to Naples, FL in 1987 after vacationing in the area for many years. With his design and construction expertise, George happily served as condominium board president for the Chateaumere and Claridge properties in Pelican Bay. He also served on construction arbitration panels for the American Arbitration Association.

Despite the demands of running an Architectural firm, he was a great father, always there for support ("and construction advice") for his two sons, Steven R. West M.D. (Jane) of Seymour, IN and Jonathan R. West JD/MBA (Freida) of New York, NY. He is also survived by his six grandchildren - Samuel West (Austin, TX), Patrick West (Irving, TX), Nicholas West (Washington, DC), Kathleen Smith (Ryan) (Irving, TX), Daniel West (Christine) (Columbus, IN), and Natalie West (New York, NY), and two great grandchildren Connor and Eloise Smith (Irving, TX).

The funeral service will be private. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. William Catholic Church in memory of George R. West at 601 Seagate Drive, Naples, FL 34108 or online at www.saintwilliam.weshareonline.org.