Buck was born in Checotah, Oklahoma on December 4, 1911 to Thomas C. and Callie (Borders) West and passed away on September 9, 2008 in Lompoc, California. Buck came to California in 1935. He met and married Thelma Stringer in 1954 and was a long-time resident of Bakersfield and Arvin. He retired from the San Joaquin Cotton Oil Mill at sixty-five but continued to work for them off and on after his official retirement. Buck was an honorary member of the local VFW and enjoyed the many functions he was involved with in support of their activities. Buck enjoyed the many years he spent in Arvin and the wonderful friends he made before moving to Lompoc with his sister Ruby in 2002. Buck is survived by his brother, Tom and wife Lois West of Bakersfield; sister, Ruby Campbell of Lompoc; numerous nieces and nephews including, Sam, Houston and Kelly Hosey all of Arvin. He also leaves behind 4 step-grandchildren who reside in Mississippi. Buck was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma; brother, Bill West; sisters, Tecumseh Griffith, Rachel McCoy, Helen Mattingly, Thelma Osborne and Wanema Stafford. A funeral service will be conducted by Arvin Funeral Home on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 2pm in the Outdoor Chapel at South Kern Cemetery, Arvin for Virgil Buck West, age 96, of Lompoc who passed away September 9, 2008 in Lompoc. Pastor Mark McGinty will officiate the service and interment will follow. Visitations will be held on Sunday, September 21 from 4pm – 8pm and Monday, September 22 from 9am to 1pm at Arvin Funeral Home.