Cliff West

Clifford West

George Clifford West, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, June 23, 2005, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

He was born July 20, 1921, in Elco, Ill., son of Elmer E. and Retta Benefiel West. He and Algene Hartline were married May 17, 1942, in Cape Girardeau. She died in August 1990.

West was a 1939 graduate of Tamms Community High School. He was a boilermaker with Local 363. He attended Cape Bible Chapel, and was a volunteer at Cape Girardeau Senior Center.

He was a first sergeant with the U.S. Army during World War II. He received the American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and Victory Medal.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Tammy West of Cape Girardeau; a daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Bob Durham of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Thelma Chamberlain of Galesburg, Ill.; four grandchildren, Kyle West of St. Louis, Kindle Thompson, Bryan and Patrick Dunham, all of Cape Girardeau; six great-grandchildren, Briana, Morgan and Kaiya Thompson of Cape Girardeau, Chloe, Aubrey and Whitney West of St. Louis.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Hal Greene officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park, with full military honors by Missouri Honor Guard.