Charles F. West

Charles F. “Rookie” West, 86, passed away Friday, July 21, 2023, at his home.

Mr. West was born June 24, 1937, in Haywood County, to the late William and Mae Rhymer West. An athlete all his life, he graduated from Pisgah High School where he played football and earned the nickname “Old Golden Toe” for his field goal kicking abilities. At the age of 15, he was the youngest player on the Champion fast pitch softball team. He attended Western Carolina University and Asheville-Biltmore College where he played basketball. In that era, he was also a member of the Clogging team out of Haywood County. His wife, Laura West filled in as his partner one time even. He then joined the Army where he made a career and retired as First Sergeant. After retiring from the military he went to barber school and worked at Fox Beauty and Barber Shop for a number of years and also owned his own shops, the Swannanoa Barber Shop and Lookin’ Good Shop in West Asheville. He had been a member of West Asheville Baptist Church for 57 Years and was a professional PGA Class A Golf Club Pro. He also worked as an assistant golf instructor. He began in the apprentice program for the PGA at the Grove Park Inn. He then went to Hendersonville Country Club as an assistant and teacher for several years. He also served as head Pro at Holly Forest Golf and Country Club and was the former president of the Mountain Chapter, Carolina Section PGA, 1991-1992.

Charles was also a gospel music singer and member of The Seekers gospel group. He was an avid lover of Classic cars and owned a couple himself. Charles was also a Mason and member of the Pigeon River Lodge No. 0386 in Canton.

He is survived by his sons, Mark West and Charles West and a brother, Marcus West. He was preceded in death by his wife, Laura West and by a brother, Bill West.

Funeral services will be at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home. Interment with military honors will follow at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery.

Anyone who is attending and has a classic car that they would like to show, please drive it and show it off and follow him to his final resting place at the State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain.

The family will receive friends prior to the service from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Grimes-West Medical Laboratory Technology Endowed Scholarship.