Tom West

August 20, 1939 - October 20, 2021

Thomas “Tom” Ray West, 82, passed away Wednesday, October 20, 2021 in Terre Haute, Indiana. Tom was born to the late Douglas and Eva Glow (Taylor) West in Brazil, Indiana on August 20, 1939.
Tom graduated from Brazil High School in 1957, where he was known as “Yum Yum” and was a great athlete playing football and running track. On September 20, 1957, Tom married his high school sweetheart, the love of his life, Marsha Burns. After high school Tom worked at Bedwell Tires, Omar Bread, and was a machinist at Allison Transmission. After these jobs, Tom began college at Indiana State University continuing with his degree at Indiana University in Astrophysics . He returned to Indiana State University to complete his masters degree in Physics. Tom taught at Brebeuf Preparatory School where he was the girls tennis coach and won five state championships. After his time at Brebeuf he began teaching at Tri-West High School where he coached track and football. During his time at Tri-West High School, he was recognized as the employee who was most influential for a students academic career. After ending his teaching career, Tom began farming. Tom always enjoyed challenges of building and creating, he built some farm equipment, and then began building his dream, a sailboat named Faith.
Tom began construction on Faith in the fall of 2008 with the help of many close friends and family. He continued building Faith for the next five years, before she was finally ready to be launched. Faith was launched in Cincinnati where she sailed down several rivers and channels to Mobile Bay in Alabama where she entered the Gulf. Tom and Marsha lived on Faith for seven years while he continued making interior improvements.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents, one brother Frank West, sister-in-law, Cindy Lowdermilk and husband Darrell, niece, Natalie Lowdermilk, and one nephew, Nathan West.
Tom is survived by his wife, Marsha, two children, Rebekah Foltz, and Peggy Tingley (Tom Ramsey), two grandchildren, Brandon Orman (Shayla), and Thomas Orman, two great grandchildren, Aliyah and Liam Orman, brother, Speck West (Brenda), and sister, Lois Schrock (Richard). He is also survived by his sisters in law, Suzanne West, and Rita Dierdorff (Mark), and two brothers in law, Wayne Burns (Marilyn) and Lloyd Burns (Mary).
Visitation will be held Monday, October 25th from 10 AM until 2 PM at Lawson-Miller Chapel, 1702 E. National Ave in Brazil. A masonic service performed by the Bowling Green Masonic Lodge will begin at 2 PM. The funeral service will begin following the masonic service. Burial will follow at Poland Chapel Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Croy’s Creek Christian Church, 8921 West County Road 1075 South, Reelsville, Indiana 46171.