Charles West

William Charles "Bungle" West, 88, well-known sports enthusiast, baseball coach and supporter, died Monday, April 21, 2008 at Tennessee State Veterans Home in Murfreesboro. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at Oakes & Nichols with Robert Mullins and Rev. Rick Elsey officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. Born April 27, 1919 in Maury County, he was the son of the late Frank Edward West and Regina Hester West. He was a 1939 graduate of Columbia Central High School where he lettered in baseball, basketball, and football. He was married April 30, 1939 to the former Thelma Bradley, who preceded him in death February 15, 2000 after 61 years of marriage. During World War II, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy serving in the South Pacific from 1944 - 1946 and was a member of Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19 for over 60 years. Mr. West worked with the Tennessee Knitting Mills for 23 years until operations were closed in Columbia. He then served as shipping supervisor for Weather Tamer for 23 years until his retirement in 1986. During his years at TKM, he was an outstanding player on the company- sponsored baseball team as well as the Monsanto Maulers team. He was a charter member of West End Baptist Church and served the City of Columbia as Commissioner from January 1, 1970 to January 3, 1974. He coached Pee Wee football at Highland Park School from 1949-1955 and McDowell School from 1957-1959. Affectionately known as "Bungle," he organized and began coaching Little League Baseball in Columbia in 1947, including the 1952 Columbia All-Stars, who were Tennessee-Kentucky Champions and the Tennessee State Championship Team in 1954. He served as Tennessee State Director of Little League Baseball from 1953 to 1963. He was responsible for building TKM Little League Baseball Park in 1953 and the new American Little League Park, which was named "Bungle West Little League Baseball Park" in his honor in 1963. He received the Columbia Civitian Club Award for Outstanding Service in stimulating better citizenship in 1966. In 2006, Mr. West was elected to the City of Columbia Recreation Department Hall of Fame and received the National Little League Tom Haney Hall of Fame Award. Additionally, May 5, 2006 was declared "Bungle West Day" by the Mayor and Columbia City Council. Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and George "Buddy" Witherow of Smyrna; two grandchildren, Stan Wes (Andrea) Witherow of Albertville, Alabama and Petti Dawne (Greg) Groth of Cookeville; two great-grandchildren, Charles Hugh Witherow and Roxanne Witherow; two sisters, Catherine West Gilliam and Martha West Jones, both of Columbia. Active pallbearers are Stan Witherow, Ronnie Norton, Wesley Uptsain, Virgil Priest, Tommy Cook, Eddie Holloway, and Robert Mullins. Honorary pallbearers include Tom Haney, Jesse Sharp, Mel Gibson, past and present American & National League officers, players, and coaches, and members of the Berean Sunday School Class at West End Baptist Church.