Rev. Dr. Donald West

The Reverend Dr. Donald Ferrell West, 78, of Cayce, died Monday, September 30, 2013.

Dr. West was born Thursday, November 15, 1934, in the upstate community of West Springs, SC.  He was valedictorian of his graduating class at West Springs High School, attended North Greenville College in Tigerville, SC, and graduated in 1956 from Wofford College in Spartanburg.  From Trinity Seminary in Newburgh, Indiana, he graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors.

Dr. West served God in the gospel ministry for 60 years, serving as the pastor of many Southern Baptist churches including Glenn Street Baptist Church and Dreher Island (Park Road) Baptist Church.  Through his decades of ministry, many men, women, boys and girls were introduced to Jesus as their Savior.  He loved his family and his friends, and he made sure that each had a relationship with God through faith in Jesus.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy; children, Elisa W. Cox (Tim); Donna M. West, and Donald F. West II (Tracey); step-children, Dale West, Lori Epperson (John) and Lynn Shoopman (Steve); grandchildren, Brandon Cox (Laura), West Cox, Kaylee West, Cole West and Tripp West; four step-grandchildren, Ryan West, Michael Shoopman, Courtney Shoopman and Brandon Epperson and two great-grandchildren, Thomas and Anna Claire Cox.  Dr. West was predeceased by his wife, Mary Starnes West.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 3, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of West Columbia. Burial will follow in Woodridge Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, October 2, 2013, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to North Greenville College, 7801 N. Tigerville Road, Travelers Rest, SC  29690, First Baptist Church of West Columbia, PO Box 4898, West Columbia, SC  29171 or The Gideons International, PO Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214.

Pallbearers will be Larry Berry, Robert Corley, Stanley Wells, Brandon Cox, West Cox, Cole West and Tripp West.  Honorary pallbearers will be L.D. Walker, Mark Gardner, Jerry Conyers, Dean Brandt, Heyward Brown, Sid Gaulden and Eddie Love.

Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington is entrusted with the arrangements.