Betty Marie McCroskey Starnes was born to Tom and Maud McCroskey at their house in Atlanta, Georgia on April 6, 1925. An only child, Betty grew up with an immense love for nature, gardening and animals.
She attended Commercial High School in Atlanta and after graduation and college began working as a secretary for The War Production Board as the United States had entered World War II. After the love of her life, Bob Starnes returned from a tour with the Marine Corps in the Pacific, the happy couple married and instantly Betty had all the brothers and sister she'd ever wanted as he was from a VERY large family!
Betty and Bob were blessed with two children, Tommy and Susan and all were members of Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Betty loved helping her mother arrange flowers for the sanctuary.
Betty worked at Southern Wood Preserving Co. in East Point, Georgia until she retired in 1974. She and Bob were blessed with four grandchildren, Robert, Jill, Matthew and Stephen.
After Bob retired, he and Betty went on several Caribbean cruises and attended several reunions of Bob's Marines Division, Edson's Raiders in Quantico, Virginia. Betty and Bob also visited Washington, D. C. and toured the Capitol.
When Betty was growing up her father had always told her that their family were "Scotch-Irish". You can imagine her surprise when she and Susan went on a church mission trip to Ireland in 1996 and the tour guide informed her that she had it all wrong; it was "Scots-Irish because SCOTCH is a drink!" Trip of a lifetime, that was for Betty.
Animals were very important in Betty's life, whether families of grey foxes in her backyard, assorted cats or the two precious dogs in her life, Justin and Honey. Although she liked cats; dogs were definitely her favorites.
Betty was able to spend time at Christmas a few years ago with her great-granddaughter, Itzel before becoming extremely ill with Alzheimer's and being admitted to a very loving memory care facility. As such, she never met her great-grandson, Mateo; but she saw many photos of him.
Betty died very peacefully on November 18, 2019 in hospice being lovingly care for by all who attended to her. Every day, she sees Jesus, Bob and Tommy and has a wonderfully blessed time in her Heavenly Home.She was married to the love of her life, the late Robert Asberry Starnes.
A Funeral Service for Mrs. Betty Marie Starnes will be held on Sunday, November 24, 2019 at 2:00PM at Horis A. Ward Funeral Home - Fairview Chapel, 376 Fairview Road, Stockbridge, Georgia with visitation beginning at 1PM.
Private Burial will be in Crest Lawn Cemetery.
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