Tributes

Dwight Courtney West, of San Antonio, Texas, departed this world on April 30th, 2023, at the age of 89. He leaves behind his devoted wife Graciela; three loving children, including Robert West and wife Ana (Houston), Karen Rowe (Oklahoma City), and Jeffrey West and wife Amber (Edmond, OK); stepson Paolo Valencia (Houston, TX); and 6 adoring grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Dwight is predeceased by parents Elsie Roberta and Truman Clyde West, wife Shirley Casey West, and brother Jack Dennis West. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Dwight principally grew up in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, and Fort Worth, Texas. Dwight was also very fond of Adair, Oklahoma, where he spent many summer and winter breaks with his extended family as a child. After high school, Dwight went to Texas Christian University where he played the clarinet in the Horned Frog Marching Band and fostered his lifelong love of marches. He then went to Austin Presbyterian Seminary. It was during his field work while in Seminary, that Dwight met Jeanette, mother of Robert and Karen, at the First Presbyterian Church of Tyler. Later in life, Dwight went on to complete a Doctor of Ministry degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. For 41 years, Dwight served as a pastor of the ministry of the word and sacrament of the Presbyterian Church (USA). His ministry took him to serve the First Presbyterian Church of Hillsboro (1958-1963), First Presbyterian Church of Camden, Arkansas (1963-1968), Northwest Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City (1968-1972), First Presbyterian Church of Moore, Oklahoma (1973-1979), First Presbyterian Church of Weslaco, Texas (1979-1993), and Grace Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, Texas (1993-1999). In addition to his pastoral duties, he was also a dedicated servant to the Presbyterian Church throughout his career and even in retirement. He served in various capacities at the Mid-Texas Presbytery, Ouachita Presbytery, Oklahoma Presbytery, Synod of Arkansas and Oklahoma, and Synod of the Sun. His most notable service was to Mission Presbytery where he served as a board member and President of Su Casa de Esparanza, a not-for-profit that remained dear to his heart throughout the remainder of his life. Dwight was also honored with the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Weslaco Rotary Club and the Rotary Foundation. Dwight will be remembered for his dedication to the Presbyterian Church, his jovial personality and witty sense of humor, his knowledge of every good restaurant in the State of Texas, and an uncanny ability to remember every ditty or jingle he had ever heard. A celebration of Dwight’s life will be held at 3:00 pm on May 6, 2023 at Covenant Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dwight’s honor can be made to Su Casa de Esperanza.

Tributes

Rev. Dr. Dwight C. West

November 23, 1933 - April 30, 2023