George E. ‘Buddy’ West

ODESSA George E. "Buddy" West, age 71, went to be with the Lord June 25, 2008, at Hospice House. Representative Buddy West is a native Texan. He was born in Ballinger, Texas October 9, 1936, and moved to Odessa from Ballinger in March 1944. He married Shirley Porter, March 22, 1956, in Odessa. They have been married 52 years and reside in Odessa.

They have one son and two daughters, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Buddy was saved in 1945 at First Baptist Church in Odessa and was a member of Crescent Park Baptist Church for 32 years and the last 12 years at First Baptist Church.

Buddy graduated from Odessa High School, he attended Odessa College, Howard Payne University, Hardin-Simmons University and he graduated with a BBA in business management from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in December 1975. He retired after thirty years with Amoco where he worked in multiple capacities, such as, safety engineer, product technologist, and plant and field technician.
Representative West was elected to the Texas House in 1992 where he represents Texas House District 81, which is composed of Ector, Andrews and Winkler counties.

Buddy has been Odessa's State Representative longer than any other - he served eight terms in the State Legislature. His final term ends Dec. 31, 2008. He had been instrumental in championing the growing University of Texas of the Permian Basin throughout his legislative career. He's also filed bills in support of the energy business. He recently authored House Bill 2289, which will give school police officers retirement and health insurance benefits under the state teacher retirement system. The session ran out before the bill was passed. He currently served on the House Committees on Law Enforcement, as well as Environmental Regulations. He is the past Chairman of the House Committee on Energy Resources. Before his legislative career, he served on the Ector County School Board.

When not in Austin, Representative West spent his free time playing with his grandchildren, attending all of their extracurricular activities, going to church, working around the house, and hunting with friends and his grandsons. Buddy was also a little league baseball coach and Boy Scout leader. He loved to read, especially American and Texas history.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley West of Odessa; son, Richie West of Odessa; daughters, Lori Bennington and husband, Wade, of Odessa and Ami Satterwhite and husband, Scott, of Odessa; brother, Joe Carter West and wife, Carolyn, of Dallas; sister, Yvonne Miller and husband, Herb, of Midland; grandchildren, Kelsee, Shelby West, Scotty, Lexi, Landon and Laci Satterwhite and Baylee Bennington; great-grandchild, Rylee West; and several nieces and nephews.

Family visitation will be Thursday, June 26, 2008, at Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, June 27, 2008, at First Baptist Church with Dr. Byron McWilliams, Dr. Bailey Stone and the Rev. Bob Bratcher officiating. A graveside service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 28, 2008, at Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas with a reception to follow at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

Pallbearers will be: Paul Blanton, Huey McCoulskey, Jim Pitts, Jack Frost, Bill Wilkerson, Pete Laney, Vicki Gomez, Wayne Squiers, Scotty Satterwhite, Keith Cardwell, Ken Heatherly and Judge Bill McCoy.

Honorary pallbearers will be: the members of the Texas House of Representatives.

Memorials may be made to Hospice House, 903 N. Sam Houston Odessa, Texas 79761, the Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street New York, New York 10016 and First Baptist Church Music Ministry and Children's Ministry, 709 N. Lee Odessa, Texas 79761

Services entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors.