John H. Starks, Jr.

John Henry Starks, Jr. was born in Birmingham, AL on November 15, 1937, to the union of the late John, Sr., and Mary Starks. John, Jr. won his battle with cancer on January 24th, 2024, after a two and half months stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. He received his eternal rest, peace, and reconciliation with his “best girl”, Irene Mary Starks, two sons, Richard Anthony, (61), and John Kenneth Starks, (7 months), sisters, Loreta (Starks) Bush and Mary (Starks) Webster and several beloved dogs. He is also proceeded in death by his brothers-in-law, Harry, Sr., and Jean Banks, father-in-law, Everette Banks, Sr. and mother-in-law, Irene Banks.

John leaves behind his eldest son, Terrence Starks, two daughters-in-law, Monica, and Mary Starks, one brother, Tyrone M. Starks, two sisters, Nancy Starks-Higgins, and Grace Starks-Gaines; his sister-in-law, Marjorie Banks (Everette, Jr., deceased), two brothers-in-law, Charles (Shai, deceased) and Sidney Banks, (Helen, deceased). Three grandchildren, Jacob, Adam and Chenal Starks, two godchildren, Selina and Brady, their parents Leslie and Dirke Williams, niece, Gloria Banks-Lee, who served as his voice, bedside nurse, and ally during his stay at Walter Reed, a host of nieces, nephews, loved ones, and friends to include his Library of Congress retired buddies, you know who you are.

John graduated from St. Leo Catholic High School (Detroit, MI), and Bowie State University (Bowie, MD). John H. Starks, Jr. served in the U.S. Air Force with his most memorable duty stations being in Vietnam and Saudi Arabia. He honorably retired with 20 years military service at the rank of Master Sargent. John later retired from the Library of Congress after 21 years of service.

After retirement, he and Irene enjoyed showing their boxers and attending boxer events up and down the east coast for many years. He was a lifelong member of the Potomac and American Boxer Clubs. Together, he and his Irene enjoyed bowling and boating with friends and family at their water-front home in Orange, VA (Lake of the Woods).

John H. Starks was a deliberate man, a deep thinker, a man of his word, often very opinionated regarding the state of the country and politics in general, as he loved and was invested in his country, and he was a purpose-driven man who finished what he started. He was a self-proclaimed “Warrior” which served him well in his last few months of life. He was independent, self-reliant, private, compassionate, a strong judge of character, proud of his service to his country, a family man and was a survivor to the end. He enjoyed a good glass of red wine (or cocktail) in the evening and was an avid reader of thriller novels with James Paterson being his favorite author. He started his book, Alex Cross Must Die, at Walter Reed, but as God would have it, he ran out of time before finishing it and the book of his life was forever closed. John possessed a good but dry sense of humor; he loved fried chicken and potato salad and could make a mean slab of ribs.

John H. Starks, Jr’s moto in life was, “I like to make a good impression going into a room but to hell with what they think when I leave.” He would tell the story of how he’d only shine the front portion of his government-issued military shoes and purposely leave the back as is for that specific reason. We salute John’s life, his friends and family. May he rest in everlasting peace.

John's funeral service will be held at 10:45 AM on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel at 204 Arlington Ave, Fort Myer, VA 22211. All guests who wish to attend are asked to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the service time.