Newell E. West, 96, lifelong Tulsa resident, passed away Wednesday, September 9, 2015 in Broken Arrow, OK. He was born October 27, 1918 to Glenn A. West and Olive G. (Rock) West in Tulsa, OK. He graduated from Central High School in 1936. After graduation, he attended University of Tulsa part-time and went to work as an apprentice electrician. In 1941, he married Shirley H. Smith, to whom he was married until her death in 2005. During WWII, Newell went into the Army and served in a special Army branch in southern Germany that was directed to locate and apprehend former Nazi officers and soldiers who were to be interrogated and tried for war crimes. After the war, he returned to Tulsa at which time he finished his education at University of Tulsa, which included a degree in law. Newell started and ran his own electrical company, Delta Electric, for over thirty years, retiring in 1983. He continued to operate a small legal practice until recently.

Newell had always been and continued to be very active in many pursuits. He was an accomplished baseball and softball pitcher and even earned a letter from the TU baseball program. He played goalie in the local ice hockey leagues and had some semi-pro experience. He was a longtime pilot who owned, serviced, and flew his own airplane. He managed to fit in a few years of stock car racing, driving the Delta Electric Special. Newell continued to play softball and played his last game at the age of 91. Newell is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley H. West; granddaughter, Tiffany W. Emmert and grandson, Robert E. Newman. He is survived by his sister, Jean Schneider of Tulsa; sons, Charles A. West, his wife, Martha of Coweta, OK, and Jeffery L. West of Tulsa; daughters, Cathy A. Ryan, her husband Joseph W. Ryan of Tulsa and Lesliee L. Emmert of Houston, TX; grandchildren, Emily K. Sherwood of Tulsa, William M. Ryan of Dallas, TX, and Gregory J. Newman of Coweta; great-grandchildren, Abigail R. Sherwood and Joseph W. Sherwood, both of Tulsa. Special thanks go to the Esen family whose friendship and support were of such great value to Newell in recent years.

No funeral services planned.

Moore's Eastlawn Chapel, 918-622-1155.