Richard Wayne West

Mr. Richard Wayne West, “Wayne,” died Thursday, July 20, 2023, at the Regional Hospice House. He was 80 years old.  

A native of Glenn Springs in Spartanburg County, Wayne was born on May 7, 1943, a son to the late John Wesley West and Nancy Louise Duncan West.  

He is survived by his beautiful wife of 47 years, Kay Lovelace West, and his three stepchildren, whom he treated as his own, Jim Gowan (Sandy), Cindy Quillen (Mark), and Sandy Hance (Tommy). He was a proud grandfather to eleven grandchildren: Lindsay Gowan, Taylor Hodges (Ryan), Jennifer Bailey (Logan), Stephen Quillen (Mariem), Will Hance, Luke Quillen, Markie Quillen, Maggie Wilbanks (Brett), Philip Quillen (Aubrey), Mollie Hance, and Nancy Quillen. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren: Olivia Quillen, Asa and Levi Hodges, Liam and Ellis Wilbanks, and Lane and Josie Bailey. 

Wayne is also survived by three brothers, Neal, Gary, and Tom West. He was predeceased by three sisters, Blanch Pruitt, Grace Eaves, and Evelyn Thomas, and four brothers, Homer, Lester, Alvin, and Cary West.  

Trademarked by his cowboy hat, boots, and jeans, Wayne was a true, old-school cowboy, raising horses, sheep, and border collies on his small family farm. He was committed to upholding values of integrity, strength, and stewardship captured in the famous Cowboy Code of Ethics. 'When you make a promise, keep it,” “Take pride in your work,” and “Be a good steward of the land and its animals” are some of the principles he lived by. 

During the late 1960s, Wayne attended Roebuck High School, where he played basketball and ran track. He made some of his closest, lifelong friendships during these years.  

Wayne’s enduring passion was working with animals and the outdoors, and he sought to chart his own path in this field. After high school, he went to Alabama to work on a large cattle ranch, where he learned the skills of a cowboy. Eventually, he started his own farm back home, which he named Flint Hill after the many flint arrow heads found while clearing the land. He became known for his fine registered quarter horses and border collies, which became a significant aspect of his life. Impressed by their intelligence, temperament, and agility, Wayne dedicated himself to raising quality working border collies, receiving mentorship from the renowned Illinois-based breeder Arthur Allen. Over time, Wayne became a reputable border collie breeder in his own right, raising and nurturing hundreds of these exceptional dogs, many of which found homes on western ranches. His proudest pup, “Chaser,” became a nationwide sensation, learning to retrieve more than 1,000 toys by name and becoming the official mascot of Spartanburg Community College.  

Outside of the farm, Wayne wore many other hats as well. He spent part of his career serving as a firefighter for the City of Spartanburg, building houses with his brothers, and restoring log cabins. He also served on the board of Broad River Electric Cooperative for 30 years. Wayne had an entrepreneurial and creative side also, coming up with several small inventions that his friends joked, “the world was not ready for yet.” He carved beautiful duck decoys that many friends and family still have decorating their homes. 

Most important to Wayne though were his connections to community and family, which he invested heavily in every step of the way. He dedicated his time to helping with the Good News Club at Pauline Glenn Springs Elementary and hosted pre-school and elementary children at his farm for border collie demonstrations. He served on the board and organized the livestock barn for the Piedmont Interstate Fair and provided support to the local 4-H lamb club, which some of his own grandchildren were involved in. Additionally, for several years, he proudly organized the Spartanburg Fairgrounds World Championship Rodeo, a major attraction that, rain or shine, brought hundreds of enthusiastic attendees. Many early mornings he could be found socializing at Krispy Kreme over a cup of coffee and a doughnut.  

Above all, Wayne was a devoted Christian and family man. He was a faithful member of Glenn Springs Presbyterian Church and a charter member of the Glenn Springs Preservation Society. For the latter, he spent countless hours working on the Old Stone Church restoration and was known for his persistent fundraising skills. Often times he could be found sitting in his truck on the property of the Old Stone Church where he had personal times of reflection. He was always there for his family, and was proud of their achievements and eager to support them however he could. He was a man of integrity, conviction, and strength, and a faithful friend to those who had the honor to befriend him. He will be greatly missed. As a dear friend said, "He is riding a beautiful horse in open pastures."  

Funeral services will be at 4:00 PM, Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at Glenn Springs Presbyterian Church, 6001 SC-215, Pauline, SC 29374, conducted by the Rev. Dr. B. E. Pettit and the Rev. Mark Quillen. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.  The family would like to invite everyone, following the interment, to a BBQ at The Old Stone Church, 3700 Glenn Springs Road, Spartanburg, SC, 29302 to honor and celebrate Wayne’s life. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Glenn Springs Preservation Society, P O Box 571, Pauline, SC  29374. (Cates Building) 

Floyd’s North Church Street Chapel