Carroll Westfall painted new life into countless works of old, faded and damaged art.

The Lower Burrell art restorer touched up pieces from the greats, works owned by Pittsburgh's wealthiest families and largest corporations and lesser paintings holding special meaning.

“He would look at a painting, no matter if it was a valuable painting or a reasonable painting, a painting that wasn't worth much or a painting that was worth thousands, and took the same care to restore it,” said Wade Shehady, an oriental rug restorer, owner of Shehady's Oriental Rugs in Aspinwall and a longtime friend and client of Mr. Westfall. “Carroll was a modest man. He would never brag. But I'm going to do some bragging for him. Carroll was incredible with what he did.”

Carroll Bennett Westfall, an Army veteran who served in World War II, died Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. He was 92.

“I saw it in his eyes. I saw what care and attention he wanted to give to a painting. The man was a master,” Shehady said.

Even as a young boy in West Virginia, Mr. Westfall was an artist, said his wife, Deborah. He won free art classes once by drawing pictures for a contest in a magazine.

In the war, Mr. Westfall served as a first scout in the Army, a dangerous job. He ran out in front of advancing troops to find the enemy and alert the soldiers, his wife said. He was awarded the Bronze Star, two Silver Stars and several combat infantry medals for his service.

The Army sent Mr. Westfall to the French Riviera after his service. He painted along the boardwalk, often capturing portraits of military men as they passed. He then studied painting at Wharton Technical School in England, where he learned art restoration.

Mr. Westfall moved to Pittsburgh in 1959. He continued to paint as a hobby but sold cars to keep food on the table.

“He had a family to support, and let's face it, the phrase ‘starving artist,' there's some truth to that,” Deborah Westfall said.

Mr. Westfall once painted a portrait of his wife. She didn't think it looked like her. He insisted it did.

“That was a bone of contention,” Mrs. Westfall said.

He hated the car business and started restoring paintings to make money. Mr. Westfall restored a small van Gogh work for the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. He restored paintings hanging inside PNC Bank's corporate offices and in the Pittsburgh Field Club. The Snyder family of Sewickley hired Mr. Westfall to restore art in its collection.

Mr. Westfall taught his wife how to restore paintings. The two met when he was 62 and she was 28. They were together for 30 years, said Mrs. Westfall. Her husband worked on paintings well past his 90th birthday.

In addition to his wife, Deborah, Mr. Westfall is survived by his children, David Westfall of Carnegie, Paul Westfall of Detroit, Ore., Ann Westfall of South St. Paul, Minn., and Carol Westfall of St. Paul; his brother, Dennis Westfall of Ocala, Fla.; and two grandchildren.

Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, 1014 California Ave. in Avalon.

Aaron Aupperlee is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-320-7986 or aaupperlee@tribweb.com.

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