Harold A West

Harold Allan West, a loving father, grandfather, uncle, brother, husband, and the patriarch of the West Family, passed away peacefully at his Malden home while holding his daughter Kathryn’s hand, on Friday morning, April 26, 2024. Harold was born on February 15, 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Welford West, Sr. and Marie (Cunningham) West (both deceased) , and for the rest of his life he remained extremely proud of the North Philadelphia Neighborhood in which he was raised. Harold attended the Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary School and the Benjamin Franklin High School, where he graduated in June 1953. Shortly after graduating High School he married Bessie (Chisholm) West, and from that union their three daughters Theresa, Barbara, and Shirley West, were born. Bessie and Harold were both teenagers when they married, and unfortunately their marriage ended in divorce in 1964. “West” as he was affectionately called by family, friends, and Co-workers, left Philadelphia and moved to Cambridge Massachusetts where he met and married the late Edna (Burns) Summers. Harold Happily accepted Edna’s six children as his own and the couple later had another daughter together. Harold was very proud of his children, and represented all of them with his license plate “WEST10” on each and every car, or “ride” as he called them. After working various jobs, Harold kept searching for a better opportunity, and landed at Boston Metal where he excelled, and was promoted to Foreman. West developed a passion for welding, and in his spare time began welding things around the house such as bunk beds, swings, go-karts, and even long stemmed roses for his wife. In 1978 West left Boston Metal after accepting a job as a Bus Operator for the MBTA. A proud and devoted employee of the “T” Harold quickly rose up the ranks becoming a Starter, Inspector, and finally a Chief Inspector, a position that required him to carry a gold badge. He retired from the “T” after a more than 20 year career, but of course West remained active by driving buses for various private schools and colleges throughout the state. After 50 years of marriage, Harold lost his beloved wife Edna in 2020. Harold’s favorite pastimes were watching old Western Movies like Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Big Valley, driving to Philadelphia, telling jokes, dancing while blowing his whistle, and spending time with his family. Anything and everything was a reason to celebrate and have a party, and every year he would throw himself a big birthday party to fulfill a promise he made to his late mother, Marie, to “Keep The Family Together!” On August 21, 2021 at the ripe young age of 86, Harold married Deborah (Gaul) West at a beautiful ceremony in a downtown Boston skyscraper. They then moved into Deborah’s Dorchester home where they lived together for two years with Debbie’s son Andrae Wilson, and their God-daughter Kiki Philyaw. Within their time together, Deborah, already a world traveler, accompanied Harold on his first of many trips out of the country. Although separated at the time of his passing, she was by his side during his illness. Harold is survived by his wife Deborah and her son Andrae Wilson, of Dorchester, his Children Theresa West of Philadelphia, Barbara West of Philadelphia, Shirley West of Philadelphia, Kathryn West-Hines (Darius) of Malden, Paula Burns of Milan, Tennessee, Arthur Summers (Michele) of Fitchburg, Carla Olivier (Frantz) of Medford, Richard Summers (Charlene) of Arlington, Mark Summers of Cambridge, and Jeffrey Summers (Tasha) of Malden, his siblings Shirley Ridenhour of Atlanta, Lorraine Houston of Cambridge, Diane West of Malden, Eugene West of Cambridge, and Rudolph West of Cambridge, plus a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. He was predeceased by his wife Edna West, his parents Welford and Marie West, his siblings, Welford West Jr. James West, Catherine West, Regina West, Tyrone West, and Barbara Scott. 

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