PHOENIX, Ariz. — Charles West, 90, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2017. He was born in Great Bend, Kansas on June 12, 1927. His parents were Arthur West and Mabel Pearce West. He married Doris Jean Weide in 1946 while in the Army.
Charles graduated from Kansas State University in Civil Engineering in 1951. He was State President of the Kansas Civil Engineering Society, Director of the National Society of Professional Engineers and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He served on the Topeka Shawnee County Planning Commission. He held professional engineering licenses in six states.
Charles retired in 1986 from the ownership of Bartlett and West Engineers, which is headquartered in Topeka, Kansas, and currently has 17 branch offices in the upper central Midwest states. His firm is owned entirely by its 375 employees.
Charles resided in Topeka, Kansas, from 1952 to 1986. When Charles retired he and Doris moved to Sedona, Arizona. They also had a second residence in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, for a few years. Charles and Doris were members of the Church of the Red Rocks in Sedona, members of the Westerners Hiking Club and the Red Rock Rovers, a four-wheel drive club. He took up photography as a hobby, joining the Oak Creek Camera Club. He spent his last three years in Phoenix, Arizona, close to his youngest daughter and family. Charles was known as a man of honor, integrity and stayed true to his values. He passed that onto his three daughters. His sense of humor was dry, unlike his famous beef brisket.
He is survived by his wife, Doris; three daughters, Suzanne West and Jay West of Kamuela, Hawaii, Wendi Vandenberg of Phoenix, Arizona and granddaughter Charlee Vandenberg of Phoenix, Arizona. Spouses are Mike Shattuck, Dennis Cigainero and Carl Vandenberg.
In lieu of a service and flowers donations can be sent to Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix www.hov.org, 602-530-6992.

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, July 7, 2017#