Richard West Obituary

RANDOLPH, MAINE

Richard C. West – Major U.S. Army (Ret.) - age 85, died Saturday, March 21, 2026 at the Maine Veterans Home, Augusta, after many years of dealing with issues of cancer relating to combat service in Vietnam. He was born in Ticonderoga, NY on July 7, 1940 the son of Fenton E. West and Mae (Clark) West.

Dick graduated from Minerva Central School in 1958. He attended several colleges while in the military, eventually graduating from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a Bachelors Degree in Business.

Dick retired from the U.S. Army in 1981 after spending 21 ½ years in service to his country. After attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6), he was accepted for Officer's Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA. He received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant.

Dick served two tours of combat in Vietnam and two years in Thailand in support of the Vietnam War, receiving many awards and medals including the Combat Infantry Badge, four Bronze Stars, Purple Heart and many others to include the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

Dick graduated from the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS in 1979. He finished his distinguished career serving as deputy senior Army advisor to the Maine Army National Guard in Augusta.

Dick spent over 20 years as an insurance representative for many different insurance agencies while pursuing a career in state government with the Maine State Police, as an Identification Specialist, finally leaving the work place in 2002.

His hobbies and interests included fishing, downhill skiing and collecting artifacts.

Dick was predeceased by his father and mother, three brothers: Fenton J West, Sonny West and Wayne West, a sister, Mae E. West and a granddaughter, Brianna.

Surviving is his wife of 64 years, Susan West of Randolph; five children: Elizabeth Jayne Hiltz and her husband the Rev. Dr. William Hiltz of Marion, IL, SFC Daniel C. West (U.S. Army Ret.) and his wife Barbara Seaver-West of Windsor, Debra G. Ettinger and her husband David of Sidney, David C. West and his wife Ann of Farmingdale, Dean C. West and his wife Tanya of Oxford; grandchildren: Charity, Jonathan, Michael, Daniel, Brian, Aubree, Dakota, Ryan, Brooke, Jennifer, Noah, Tyler, Jacob, Tucker and Senior Airman Jillian; great grandchildren: Azariah, Silas, Phoebe, Riley, Grey, Payton Mae; a brother, Neil West and his wife Doris of Farmington, NY; a sister, Rhoda Kelly and her husband Jim of Glens Falls, NY; along with many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may visit on Sunday, March 29th from 2-5 PM at Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant Street, Augusta where a funeral service will be held on Monday, March 30th at 10 AM. Burial with military honors will follow in Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mt. Vernon Road, Augusta, ME.

Condolences to the family may be expressed via the funeral home website at www.plummerfh.com.