Obituary of Eleanor L. West

Eleanor L. West, 89, of 350 Dublin Dr., died Sunday, June 1, 2008 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City after a brief illness. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 9, 2008 at the Gay and Ciha Funeral Home in Iowa City. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at the First United Methodist Church with Reverend Paul Akin officiating. A luncheon for family and friends will be served immediately following the services. Sunday parking ordinance will be in effect for the streets around the church. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Eleanor was born in Tingley, Iowa on July 13, 1918 to Ernie and Eva Bosworth as the second of four children. After graduating from Tingley High School in 1936, she attended the American Institute of Business (ABA) in Des Moines, receiving her diploma in 1939. Eleanor married Pearl L. West on March 15, 1940. After moving to Iowa City in 1941, the couple founded West Music Company. Eleanor worked as the store’s bookkeeper for many years. Her well-organized efforts were important in helping build the family business. During those years, she loved to entertain by hosting dinner parties for friends and business associates. She was always personable, fun loving, energetic, danced a lively “Charleston,” and was an outstanding cook. In later years, she and Pearl traveled extensively, partly for business, but mostly for their shared pleasure. Eleanor enjoyed telling about delivering milk on her bicycle as a child (a precarious venture while balancing glass milk bottles) and working as a switchboard operator for Tingley’s phone company. After moving to Iowa City, she was involved in numerous organizations including: the United Methodist Women – Circle 1, P.E.O. Chapter E, Music Study Club, Pilot Club, the Alpha Music Group, and Project Green. She played golf over the years, and at age 89, was still an avid bridge player, enjoying Tuesday afternoon bridge at the Elks Club and her Friday afternoon bridge group at Melrose Meadows. Survivors include a daughter Shari Freeman (Gaylen) of Carlsbad, CA; a son, Stephen (Victoria) of Iowa City; and three grandchildren, Andy West (Megan) of Boston, MA; Megan West of Seattle, WA; and Ryan West of New York City and Iowa City. She will be very much missed by her children and her grandchildren who knew her as “Nana.” Her parents, husband, two brothers, and a sister preceded her in death. The family requests that those who wish to make a donation in Eleanor’s name direct their memorials to the First Methodist Church, U of I Foundation (for Hancher Auditorium) or the West Family Music Education Scholarship Fund.