ANDERSON-Gwendolyn Horton West of Anderson, SC and Framingham, MA died at age 65, on March 12, 2010. Born in Bethune, SC on April 3, 1944, she was the daughter of Clayton Wilson and Ethel B. Horton. Gwen graduated from Camden High School in Camden, South Carolina in 1962.
Gwen’s musical training and abilities developed at a young age to become an accomplished pianist and organist as well as blessed with a significant singing voice. As early as 12 years of age, she played for congregations at The First Baptist Church in Lugoff, SC. Later she played at The Salem Baptist Church in the Charlotte, NC area, The Presbyterian Church in Bethune, SC (where she and her family hold membership and is considered to be her family’s home Church for over 30 years) and at The First Baptist Church in Framingham, MA (where she was music director, pianist and organist for over 10 years). In Framingham, she directed and conducted music for a multi-faith combining of choir groups from over 75 area Churches during several annual Thanksgiving celebrations. At the historic 180 year old Framingham Church she delighted in playing the 5th oldest (wooden pipes) organ still functioning in the United States. In all the communities that she resided, she took pleasure in organizing musical services at nursing homes and homes for the elderly on a frequent basis, especially at holidays. In several communities she provided piano instruction for a number of students at her home, schools and churches. On several occasions, she held recitals to show each of her student’s development and progress for the enjoyment of their families and friends. In all instances she was thrilled in sharing her very accomplished talents and skills.
For over 30 years, Gwen’s working career included management responsibilities at the Raytheon Corporation in Cambridge, MA. In the late 1990’s, she joined the founding team that formed the prominent architectural, engineering and construction firm of Process Facilities Incorporated (PFI) based in the Boston, MA and managed office operations in Boston, Philadelphia and California. After the acquisition of PFI by Parsons Engineering in 2005, she relocated to the Charlotte office in 2006 to provide executive management support for a large Parsons Division. In Charlotte she held responsibilities for acquiring business operation licenses (architectural, engineering disciplines, construction) and setting up management structures for the Division in a number of states in the US and countries around the world frequently working with State Departments and Departments of State to establish legal entities which Parsons operates under to provide architectural, engineering and construction services for clients globally.
Gwen is survived by her husband Henry West, and children, Tara West Carter (Don), Scott West (Patti), Grant West (Joanne Gold), Clay West (Amanda) and Ami Wood (Cliffton); and, grandchildren, Matthew West, Jake Carter, CJ Wood and Rowan Carter as well as her mother Ethel Brock Horton.
Gwen’s family would like to thank: the Greenville Hospital Services Nursing and Support staffs, and Surgeons - Dr. Bruce Snyder and Dr. Terry Cole and other Partners and Associates; the Anderson (AnMed) Nursing and Support staffs, and Surgeons – Dr. Matthew George and Dr. David Strathen and other Partners and Associates of the William Buice firm. With a sincere thank you to Interim Home HealthCare (Anderson) Case Manager/Nurse Debbie Mull and Physical Therapist Mindi Henderson.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 15, 2010 at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 515 South McDuffie Street, Anderson, SC, conducted by Dr. William Childs and Rev. Fran Elrod. Flowers are accepted.