Russel M. West

Russel M. West, 84, of Bedford, died Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at UPMC Altoona Hospital. He was born on September 25, 1931, in Muncy, a son of the late Russel M. and Mary R. (Bird) West. On November 12, 1952, in Collomsville, he married Pauline (Bubb) West who survives along with two daughters: Carolyn married to Thomas Fields of Fayetteville,  Barbara married  to James Casteel  of Bedford; two granddaughters:  Carol Ann,  married to Justin Dovey of Chambersburg, and Amanda Casteel, of Bedford; three great grandchildren:  Devin Fields, Tyson Dovey, and Landon Russel Dovey who shared a birthday with his great grandfather; a sister, Marilyn married to Lester Seagraves of Selinsgrove, and a brother, Robert West and wife Shirley of Montgomery.  He was preceded in death by an infant son, Kenneth Russel West.

Russel served in the Army during the Korean Conflict.  He worked as an engineer for PennDot and designed roads in Lycoming County. He then became licensed as an Insurance agent and worked as an agency manager for Nationwide in Wilkes-Barre, Chambersburg, and then moved to Bedford to become an agent, and then retired after 30 years in the insurance business.  He was a member of the Bedford Masonic Lodge F&AM 320, Harrisburg Consistory and the Jaffa Shrine.  He was an avid golfer and scored a hole in one on a par 4 at Caledonia Golf Course.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, April 1, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel, at the Timothy A. Berkebile Funeral Home, in Bedford with Pastor Raymond E. Short officiating.  Burial at Jersey Shore Cemetery, with full military rites conducted by the Fort Bedford Honor Guard at the funeral home.  Friends will be received on Thursday, from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home. Those wishing may make memorial contributions in Russel’s name to the Shriners International Headquarters , 2900 Rocky Point Dr.,  Tampa, FL 33607   Our online guest book is available at www.berkebilefuneralhome.com.