We were saddened to learn of the recent death of Jim West, a long-time WCG/GCI employee and elder.
Jim died of heart failure on December 1, just short of his 76th birthday. His wife Madeline wrote, “He apparently knew his time was over in the earthly realm because he blessed each family member on Thanksgiving. It was as if he was saying goodbye.”
Jim majored in engineering at Portland State College and served for six years in the Oregon National Guard as a squad leader. In the mid-1960s he began working in the printing industry in Portland. He was hired at the Ambassador College Press in Pasadena in 1969 and moved his family to California where he began employment as a pressman and later advanced through various supervisory roles until reaching Print Buying Manager in WCG’s Publishing Administration. After Plain Truth Ministries separated from WCG, Jim worked as a circulation analyst for PTM until his retirement in 1997, having worked for our church and affiliates for 28 years.
Jim and his wife Madeline and daughters Rhonda and Michelle (pictured above) made their home in San Dimas, California for many years, and became pillars in GCI’s Glendora congregation. Jim was ordained an elder in 1995. The family was active in Spokesman and Graduate Club, Women’s Ministry, YOU and just about every other activity the church offered. The family moved to Kentucky in 2004.
Cards may be sent to:
Madeline West
11298 Franklin Road
Franklin, KY 42134
Dear Madeline and Family,
Truly sorry to learn of Jim’s passing. We worked together in Publishing for many years and visiting Jim’s office was a reprise from the sometimes hectic schedules and rush jobs that often came our way. Jim was a wonderful friend who you could talk to at anytime about anything. He always had a sympathetic ear and his smile and spontaneous laugh captured everything that was so special about him. He will truly be missed. Praying for you. Love, Bob & Ruth
I used to joke in Glendora in 1996 if the Wests and Picinics ever move out then I know things are changing. Some people you associate with certain churches and those two families helped define Glendora for me in the late 1990s. Jim must have had printer’s ink in his veins as we can tell from his bio and one of his bosses told me Jim’s efforts probably saved old WCG upwards of one million dollars in the days when we had a massive printing operation. When he retired from Ambassador Press other printers came looking for him! Quite a testimony. Gone but not forgotten to all those who knew him out here in Glendora.
Dear Madeline, Rhonda and Michelle, how well Hazel and I recall our visits in one another’s homes and the friends our daughters were. There was such a solid consistency to Jim, and a balance between being a professional and being a relational person off the job. Many pleasant memories remain even though we have to say goodbye for the present. Jim will meet us again. Maybe he is saying, “Don’t know why you say goodbye I say hello, hello…”
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. May God, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, keep you all snuggled in His all loving arms during this time – and always.
In Christian Love
Grace Covenant Fellowship
Birmingham, Alabama
I knew, worked with, and traveled with Jim throughout most of my twenty-plus years in Pasadena (1973-1995), starting with his able stewardship of the Small Press operations at Ambassador Press (later Printing Services) to his advancement as Print Buying Manager. On countless design projects in my early years in Pasadena, I would walk back to the Printing Services floor to consult with Jim on paper, binding methods, trimming, scoring, varnishing, printing costs and economies, scheduling and more. As the very busy department head, Jim always made time for me. He was a kind, approachable and knowledgeable counselor. I cannot remember ever speaking to him when he did not have a wide smile and a gracious, even cheerful attitude of service. He gave me sound advice on the realities of printing that spared me many naive and costly mistakes. Later, as Print Buying Manager, I continued to call on his insight and wisdom on larger projects. I have lost count of the number of trips we made together to local printing firms, and several trips to Portland for press checks. Jim was a shrewd and resourceful buyer of printing and knew how to negotiate for optimum value and quality of printed matter. What a friend! What a mentor! What a loss! My heart goes out to you, Madeline, Rhonda and Michelle. Jim was an exemplary family man who shared his extraordinary skills and knowledge in a humble, down-to-earth way. I pray that God comfort and strengthen you all—now and always!