Obituary of Edward Alan "Eddie" West

Services will be held on Sunday, April 3, 2011 1:30 pm at South Shores Church, 32712 Crown Valley Pkwy., Dana Point, CA Military Burial Services will be held Riverside National Cemetery 22495 Van Buren Blvd.,Riverside, CA on April 4th., 12:30 pm Staging Area #3. Edward Alan West (Lucky Eddie) was born on December 25, 1928. He always felt blessed to share his birthday with the son of God, Jesus. He was first born to Gladys and Albert West in Huntington Park, California. His sister Eileen soon joined the family on 7/12/ 1934. Both of Eddie's parents instilled in him a good work ethic and patriotism towards his country. Eddie had his first job at age 11 working for the local newspaper, with hard work and diligence he was promoted to district manager of the Huntington Park Signal, he worked there from1946-1952. Eddie was such a wonderful brother, Eileen remembers a couple of occasions where she didn't have a date to a dance , well Eddie got dress up, ran off to get a corsage, and knocked on the door to escort his sister to the dance, he always came to the rescue for his sister. In June of 1952 Eddie and his buddies John La Forge and Johnny Wiedneck, decided to en list, he joined the Marines and served in Korea, 3rd Battalion, 7th Regiment First Marine Division, his rank was Sgt.USMC, from 1952 -1954. He served his country proud. Upon his discharge from the USMC he returned to his hometown. Shortly thereafter his mother encouraged him to date a good friend of his sisters, Cynthia Simpson, he remembered her well, as he would drive his sister Eileen and Cynthia to Jobe's daughters. Eddies mother Gladys just so happened to be best friends with Cynthia's mother Doris. Eddie was such a handsome young man, knocking on the Simpson's door, dressed in his uniform! Eddie was 24 and Cynthia was 19. They married 1 year later in August of 1955, and had two children, Troy and Tammy Eddie & Cynthia were married from 1955 to 1980. One year after Tammy was born Eddies father Al died of a massive heart attack, in 1960. Eddie would come to the rescue of his mother Gladys, He did everything for her while graduating from UCLA, and taking care of his family, he truly was a remarkable man. He looked after his mother, with help from his sister, until she passed away in 2003. In June of 1967, the family moved to Monarch Bay to Eddie's dream house. They all lived and played at the beach. Eddie really enjoyed body surfing and playing football on the sands. His professional career was always in paper and printing. He worked for several years at Fluor Corporation as a Graphics Communication Executive. His career took him to Saudi Arabia from 1981 - 1985. He met his current wife Sonya Smith a couple of months before leaving for Saudi Arabia. With rules in Saudi Arabia being strict, Eddie & Sonya corresponded for over a year, until Eddie asked Sonya for her hand in marriage, special paperwork and visas had to be in place before Sonya could join Eddie in Saudi Arabia. They were married in 1983. During this time they spent a lot of time traveling and seeing the world together, on Vacations from Fluor. They returned to Monarch Bay in 1986. Eddie soon began a position at Long Beach Press Telegram where he worked the evening shift. A few years later he took a job at San Gabriel Valley News in West Covina, and retired from there in 2005. This gave him plenty of time to attend several if not all of the events held at his numerous clubs. Eddie was a 60 year member the Downey Masonic Lodge, and a 50 year member of the Al Meliba, Los Angeles Shrine and the El Bekal Shrine in Anaheim, California. He was a member of the American Legion in San Juan Capistrano and loved bringing his two children Troy and Tammy for a family Son/Daughter Day every year. He was in the 1st Marine Division Association, Southern California Chapter - A favorite Marine saying of Eddie's was: "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my Brother" Eddie's life revolved around his beloved friends at the El Bekal Shrine Club. In the past 50 years you could count on one hand the events that Eddie missed. Among his other accomplishments with the Shriner's were: Commander of Legion of Honor 1992, President of South Coast Shrine Club 1993, Royal Order of Jester Court #161, Order of Quetzalcoat #7, Jay Beach. Valencia Shrine Club. Eddies daughter Tammy enjoyed seeing her dad on a weekly basis, they loved to work on the pool together to keep it serviced, and enjoyed sitting by the pool and getting filled in on his grandkids Ryan & Michael Erb, who play varsity baseball for San Clemente High School, The youngest of Eddies grandchildren, Danny Erb, age 14, who is an aspiring actor, and who auditioned last year to attend the prestigious Orange County School of the Arts that's ranked 2nd in the USA. Out of all the kids who auditioned they could only pick 400 out of the 1700 kids. Eddie & Sonya loved to see Danny's performances. Eddie was also an avid tennis player and he and Tammy loved to play tennis at the Monarch Bay Courts. His son Troy has his own landscape company, and enjoyed seeing his dad on a weekly basis, spending time taking care of extra planting that his dad needed. They enjoyed laughing and telling jokes, that Eddie was famous for. He always had a good joke to tell. His Granddaughter Whitney West who is the oldest of his grandchildren 20, and is not only beautiful inside with her incredible Charisma, but is a gorgeous aspiring model. In Sonya's words from her heart: Eddie and I were married for 28 wonderful years. We kept each other happy and laughing even when things got tough for him. He had a great big heart, which finally gave out. It's hard to let go of someone so wonderful, but now I know he's in heaven with a good hip, strong heart and no hearing problems. He is with friends and loved ones. I'm so thankful to have had so many wonderful years with him! Eddie was a beloved husband & father who will be missed very much by all who loved him and the girls will miss his big hugs! He was a hugger and would always tell you before he gave you a hug! In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to: Shriners Hospital for Children c/o El Bekal Shrine, 1320 Sanderson Ave. Anaheim, CA 92806