Portsmouth - Sarah Elizabeth “Libby” West passed peacefully at Sentara Hospital Hampton on November 28, 2012. She was born July 27, 1920 in Portsmouth, Va. to Thomas L. and Penelope W. West.
Libby graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, received her B.A. from Farmville State Teachers College, after which she earned her M.A. from the University of Virginia. Following graduation Libby taught at Deep Creek High School, Cradock High School and in Portsmouth Schools where she became Social Studies Superintendent there.
Libby received many honors including “Teacher of the Year” award and was with the school system for 43 years before retiring in 1982 to care for her mother.

Libby was an avid reader and a member of several books clubs.
 
She is survived by her brother, Thomas L. West, Jr. of Williamsburg, Va.; her nephew, Thomas Lindsay West of Midlothian, Va.; and also by her longtime friend, Timothy Shifflett. She is survived by her cousins, Mary White Watson of Greenville, N.C., John L. Watson of Raleigh, N.C., Mary Sue Watson Banner of Greensboro, N.C., Marion Hunter Joyce Burt of Virginia Beach, Va., Jean West Gilpin of Maine, and Florence West Beale of South Carolina.

Libby was an 85-year lifetime member of Monumental United Methodist Church where funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, December 3, 2012. Interment will follow at Olive Branch Cemetery officiated by Rev.

Joseph Cailles. Memorial donations may be made to Monumental United Methodist Church Endowment Fund, 450 Dinwiddie St., Portsmouth, Va. 23704. Foster Funeral Home, Portsmouth, is handling arrangements.