Worthing L. West, better known as "Winger," began his adventurous earthly journey on September 6, 1937. He delighted his mother, Jeannette Curtiss, and father, Worthing L. West Sr., and survived many childhood adventures in Newton Center, Massachusetts. Winger was a Boy Scout and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout when he was 16. He graduated from Rivers School (Massachusetts) and then Bowdoin College (Maine). After college, Winger embarked on a 7-month solo tour of the world staying in youth hostels and getting around locally on a motor bike. During this trip, he visited 24 countries; in his lifetime, he visited 53 countries! Winger was a passionate patriot. He joined the Army at the age of 23. He met his wife June, also in the Army, while they were both stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas. They married in Winston-Salem, NC in May 1967. Throughout his Army career, he defended our country during 2 different tours in Vietnam and served in Texas, Korea, Kansas, Vietnam, California, Tennessee, Germany, and Maryland. He earned his private pilot license in 1962 while stationed in Texas. For fun, he would set planes in a spin and then stabilize them. While in Germany (1977), he completed his Master's Degree in Education from Boston University (Heidelberg, Germany campus). After retiring from active duty as a Lieutenant Colonel, Winger, June, and their 2 daughters settled in Severna Park, MD, where Winger worked as a civilian senior liaison officer for the Defense Security Service for 20 years until he retired. Upon full retirement, he had completed 42 years of Federal Service and was awarded the USAF Exemplary Civilian Service Award. During retirement, Winger became an avid bird watcher and enjoyed many trips with his brother and other close friends. He also dedicated a lot of time to genealogy; he supported the local genealogical society by completing surveys of local cemeteries and he did genealogy research for many friends and family. Winger became affectionately known as DE when his first grandchild—Hannah-- couldn't say "Grampie" and replaced it with "DE." DE was an integral part of each of his grandchildren's lives and attended as many of their school and extracurricular events as he was able.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, June, his 2 daughters, Jean (Gerald) Perry and Susan Worthing (Louis) Campion, his 4 grandchildren—Hannah, Nathaniel, Rachel Worthing, and Noah Campion, his "adopted" granddaughter, Carolina, many other wonderful loving family members, and his beloved Vizsla (dog) and constant companion Snoopy. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother George C. West. He was loved by all and will be missed tremendously!

A Memorial Service will be held at Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church (110/114 Ritchie Hwy, Pasadena, MD 21122) on Friday, September 2, 2022 at 11:00 am, followed by a reception. The burial service will be held in Newton, MA with family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Winger's name to: Samaritan's Purse or Wounded Warrior Project.