William 'Bill' Frederick West was the first born child of Fred and Ida West. He was born in Parry Sound, Ontario. In 1945 he moved with his family to Charlton near Englehart, Ontario. They settled on a farm there.

Bill married Peggy on January 10, 1959.  They raised several children in the town of Larder Lake. Bill died on July 11, 1995 and is buried in the Englehart public cemetery.