Joseph A. "Ironhead" West, Jr.

Joseph A. “Ironhead” West, Jr., 72, longtime resident of Columbia, died Sunday, September 16, 2018 at Maury Regional Medical Center.Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Ray Steely and Eddie Hickman officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.The family suggests memorials to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.Born January 25, 1946, in Maury County, he was the son of the late Joseph A. “Dee” West, Sr. and the late Patricia Haywood West. The 1964 graduate of Columbia Central High School attended Nashville Diesel College and served in the U. S. Army, stationed in the Panama Canal. Mr. West was former owner and operator of two Columbia Dairy Queen locations, employed at Monsanto Chemical Company, and retired from CPS in Franklin. He was a former member of the Columbia Jaycee’s, a lifetime member of Columbia Elk’s Lodge 686, and a member of Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. He enjoyed traveling and was an avid UT fan. Above all, he cherished time spent with his family, especially his children and grandchildren. He was of the Baptist faith.Survivors include his loving wife whom he married May 21, 2011, Rhonda Gail Dalton West of Columbia; sons, Michael Carson West of Powell and Keith Allen (Lori) West of Columbia; step-daughter, Brittney Dalton of Columbia; sister, Jane Journey of Columbia; brother, Tony (Shirley) West of Columbia; grandchildren, Kaiden Brewer and Allie Gail Sweeney, both of Columbia; father-in-law, Donnie Dalton of Shelbyville; sister-in-law, Kimberly Dalton of Columbia; aunts, Betty Jean Blocker of Florida and Sara Carrigan of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; uncles, Harold (Fay) Haywood of Columbia and John (Margaret) Haywood of Cornersville; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.Pallbearers will be Kaiden Brewer, Donnie Dalton, Ryan Tietgens, Jimmy Thompson, J. R. Rigsby, Terry Hanvy, and J. B. West. Honorary pallbearers will include retired employees of Monsanto.The family would like to express a special thank you to Dr. Shawn Reed and staff, Maury Regional Medical Center Critical Care Unit and Dr. Joe Philip.