ATHENS – Walter A. West, 86, passed away unexpectedly July 9, 2006, in Athens. Born April 15, 1920, at Coles Island, New Brunswick, Canada, the son of John W. and Constance (Britten) West. He came to the United States as a baby and was a naturalized citizen of the United States. As a young adult he lived in Harmony and Brewer, graduating from Brewer High School in 1938. Walter was a hand sewer for several years and then was trained by his father to be a stitching room mechanic for the Medwed Shoe Co. Later he worked for Norwock Shoe Co., servicing all of their factories as head mechanic. He retired in 1982, and then worked for New Balance, when they opened its factory in Skowhegan, from 1982 to 1988. He worked part time for both New Balance and Dirigo. He was an avid fisherman and, at one time, he powered the ice auger invented by his father, which created quite a stir as there were no powered ice augers on the market at that time. He is survived by a daughter, Helen Bonner and her husband, Charles, of North Anson; a son, Robert West and his wife, Janice, of Pownal; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, Karl and Jacqueline Bonner and their daughters, Heather and Allison of Brunswick, Lyn and Allen Veilluex and their son, Tylor of Jay, James and Diane West and their children, Tabitha and Alexander of Durham and Thomas West of Pownal; a sister, Marguerite Gosbee and her husband, Wilbur; a brother, David Westley West and his wife, June. A graveside memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Aug. 19, at Libby Cemetery, Harmony, with continued fellowship at 182 Fox Hill Rd., Athens. Arrangements are under the direction of Smart and Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan. Donations may be made in Pauline’s memory to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, 170 U.S. Route One, Suite 200, Falmouth, ME 04105.