William F. West Jr., of Laurens, a retired minister and English professor, died Aug. 5, 2016.
He was ordained into the ministry upon graduation in 1944 from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Throughout his lifetime, he served as a full-time pastor and later as interim pastor in five southern states. In 1962, he joined the faculty at Anderson College, where he taught English until his retirement. West held a Ph.D. in English from Florida State University.
Survivors include three children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.