Eric Edward West, federal retiree
Dr. Eric Edward West of Frankford passed away the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Milford, with his wife, Cynthia Gooch-West, at his bedside. Eric was born Dec. 28, 1938, in Galveston, Texas. Eric was the son of Earle Edward West and Norma Lee (Saenz) West.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Deborah (Sult) West; and his sister, Claudia Wells. He was also preceded in death by a beloved Havanese, Theodore Roosevelt “Teddy” West. Eric is survived by his wife Cynthia; sister, Jennie West of Wimberly, Texas; and his sons, Evan and Preston. He is also survived by Preston’s wife, Amy (Keefe) West and their children Mina and Obi, as well as Evan’s children Ethan and Brynn, and another beloved Havanese, Bentley.
Eric was educated at University of St. Thomas - St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, Texas, and received his doctor of public administration from Nova University in Florida. Eric was a dedicated civil servant employed by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (Administration on Aging), the Department of Energy (Consumer Affairs Division), and the U.S. Marine Corps as a civilian analyst. While employed by the Marines, Eric attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces - United States War College at Fort McNair, Arlington, Va. Eric retired from federal service in 2007 after a career spanning more than 34 years in total. During that time, Eric was active in both of his federal employee unions - The American Federation of Government Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union - participating as a shop steward and assisting in organizing several job actions. After retirement, Eric was active in the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.
A lifelong progressive and Democrat, Eric was also active in the Delaware Shore Democrats and 38th District of Delaware Democrats. He learned his progressive values as a young man in LaMarque, Texas, his hometown, as a 7-Up truck driver and while working as a Roman Catholic priest in Houston’s 4th Ward during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. While employed by the federal government and living in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, Va., where he lived with his family for 36 years, Eric’s political involvement was somewhat restricted by the Hatch Act, but he passed on his political values, sense of social justice and belief in the value of community to his sons.
Through his political activism after retirement and moving to Delaware, he met Cynthia Gooch-Copley, with whom he found a kindred passion for politics and life in general. Eric and Cynthia were married in 2019. Eric was blessed to be included in the large and wonderful Gooch family, spending many happy hours with Cynthia and her kin, who were and have been a tremendous support to Eric and his sons.
Eric thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, friends from his political activities, and friends from St. Martha’s Episcopal Church in Bethany Beach. He was a well-known raconteur and BS-er, and never missed the chance to weave a tale with equal doses of facts, sort-of-facts, reasons, and flat-out embellishments - the last of which was mainly to see if the listener was really paying attention.
Eric grew up reading the Pogo comic strip by Walt Kelley and lived by a few of the bits of wisdom he learned from it, including, but not limited to:
"We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities."
"When we become negative and ungrateful, it is important to remember... We have met the enemy, and he is us."
"Looking back on things, the view always improves."
"It is not good enough for things to be planned - they still have to be done; for the intention to become a reality, energy has to be launched into operation."
"The best break anybody ever gets is in bein' alive in the first place. An' you don't unnerstan' what a perfect deal it is until you realizes that you ain't gone be stuck with it forever, either."
Online condolences may be made by visiting melsonfuneralservices.com.
