On July 15 ^th , 1938, Otis and Ollie "Doll" West welcomed third son, George "Wendell" into their lives.

Their house was full of family and music.  He continued that traditional love for family and music throughout his life.

As was the custom of the time, he went to work at 6 years old.  He sold popcorn at the Newbern Sale Barn and set pins at the bowling alley.  Wendell said teenage boys regularly threw their bowling balls before he cleared the pit. He walked home at midnight and his mom told him if he could whistle it would scare the hobos and haints away.  Wendell was quite the whistler and could call his girls home if he needed them before the street lights came on and once almost got thrown out of a DHS basketball game by an unhappy referee.

In 1958, he married Etta Lee Rumley.  He stole her from "the other fella" when he met her on a double date.  He began working at Colonial Rubber Works to support his wife and daughters Rhonda and Carol.  Wendell began his Colonial career around 1960 working his way up from the sponge rubber department to becoming CEO of the company.

As a husband, nothing was too good for Etta.  Small disagreements might have occurred but he solved the issue of open cabinets, closets, and drawers by opening every single cabinet, closet, and drawer in the house before leaving on a business trip.  His point was well taken.

To his girls, he was the singer of all 40 verses of "On Top of Ole Smokey" on road trips, partner in practical jokes, and chauffeur to any and all ballgames.  His home was always open to endless teens.

If a "bunking" party included ghost stories, he'd slip outside and bang on the window to squeals of terror.  Jon Hastings once brought Lee over and made an offhand comment about leaving his keys in the car.  Wendell slipped out and moved the car.  When Jon and Lee left, they immediately returned to report their "missing car."

Well into adulthood, he took care of daughters Rhonda, Carol, sons-in-law Donne and Jay as well as grandchildren Danielle (Guillo), Mitch (Casey), Krissy (Chris), and Ian.  He was delighted with visits and face time with great granddaughters Sophia, Brielle, and Sadie. All who lovingly referred to him as Dub or G-Dub.

Wendell loved and cherished family.  He treated Angela (Kenny), and their girls Magen (Alex), and Mallory (Ty) as well as their children Brett, Emmett, Gwen, and Madeline as his own.  He embraced Missy, Steven, and Blake with open arms.  He always made time for nieces Cynthia and Sharon as well as nephews Chris and Bret.

Wendell was a lifelong learner and embraced technology.  He had one of the first 200-pound VCRs and a car phone.  He was undaunted by the iPhone as you are well aware if you have ever been held hostage by a group text he initiated.

If you knew Wendell, you knew he was a Christian not just in word, but in deed.  He was an example of faith in his personal life and in his community.  He served as a song leader, elder, and sometime speaker at Parr Avenue Church of Christ.  His church family was always in his prayers.

Wendell felt a strong sense of civic duty and participated and contributed to several worthwhile organizations.  He served as District Governor of Civitan, Board Chair of the Tennessee Technology Center in Newbern, several boards for industrial development at the University of Tennessee at Martin, and Tennessee Vocational Training.  He also worked with Dyersburg State Community College, the Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross, and Adopt-a-School.  Wendell always placed God first, family second, community and country third, and himself last.

We like to imagine him entering Heaven and getting to embrace the Savior he so faithfully served.  He was reunited with his bride of almost 64 years who probably isn't that surprised to see him since in her words, "If I get sick, he'll just get sicker."

Granny and Pap-Paw get to be reunited with their "baby boy" while Don and Lynn get to be with their brother again.

Etta's family will be rejoicing and Gwen will once again hand over baby Sam.  He can fill Mark in on Danielle and her beautiful girls, Ian, and Volunteer football.

He can sit and chat with Walter, Grover, Eddie, Jack, Carl, and Jon.  He can have one of his intense spiritual discussions with Parks and they can go to the source for the questions that arise.

The family wants to say a special thanks to lifelong friend Wanda Ray whose homemade ice cream was always a hit.  Ralph and Janice Reynolds were always a source of great support and care.  Caregivers Ruth Porter, Shamilla Toomes, Cheryl White, Franchesta Swift, and Darlene Tatum made his time here more comfortable.

If you want to honor Wendell, love God, love each other, be that amazing example, and cheer for the Vols.

Services arrangements will be handled by Dyersburg Funeral Home.  Visitation will take place Wednesday, July 6 from 12 noon-2pm with services following in the chapel at 2pm. Conducting the service will be Bros. Scott Owen and Mark Anderson.  Serving as pall bearers will be Tim McCraw, Keith French, Kevin Wilkerson, Terry Seaton, Randy Golden, Carl Schultz, Jack Reese, and Ian Reagan.  Honorary pall bearers will be Donnie Ivey, Jay Parham, Dr. Kenneth Brunson, Dr. Ralph Reynolds, Danny Carpenter, Alex McCulloch, Ty Weeks, Mitch Parham, Chris Halbert, and Guillo Torres.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.