Charles Ray (Chuck) West 77 passed away on November 22 2010. A memorial service at the Lighthouse Assembly of God 5325 Texas Avenue will be held on Monday November 29 at 10:30 a.m. Officiating will be Pastor Dorothy Boren. A military burial ceremony at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery 7457 West Lake Road will follow at 1:00 p.m. Arrangements by North's Funeral Home 242 Orange Street. Charles was born May 2 1933 in Lanes Prairie Missouri to parents Thomas and Bertha and was one of fourteen brothers and sisters. He was raised and attended school in Belle Missouri. Charles served in the U.S. Air Force for 21 years and was stationed at various air bases around the world as he performed flight engineer duties on C-130 cargo aircraft for most of his military career. A Vietnam veteran he was stationed in Southeast Asia for an extended tour. After his retirement from the Air Force in 1974 at Dyess AFB he worked for Crown Cork & Seal for a short time before relocating to Union Missouri to work as a church camp administrator for Camp Mo-Val near Union. He then worked as a propane gas delivery driver for MFA Oil Company in Union before his retirement with the company and returned to Abilene to spend his later years. Charles loved the outdoors playing golf or going fishing at any opportunity. He enjoyed people especially children and spent much time in his later years watching after his grandchildren or the children of his friends. He was a member of the Lighthouse Assembly of God. He was preceded in death by a son Thomas his parents and 6 brothers and 3 sisters. Survivors include his wife Ruth sons and daughters-in-law Phillip and Denise and Steven and Janet both of Abilene four grandchildren Shaun Crystal Elizabeth and Victoria along with two great-grandchildren Kaden and Zoey. Surviving brothers and sisters include Roy and wife Betty West Homer and wife Jo West Donna and husband Dave Shibles and Linda and husband Larry Fritsch. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to West Texas Rehabilitation Center 4601 Hartford Abilene TX 79605 or Hospice of the Big Country a branch of the West Texas Rehabilitation Center. Online condolences can be made at www.northsfuneralhome.com