Roy "Doc" W. Starkey

Roy William Starkey, MD, passed away at the ripe age of 98 on Friday, July 26th, 2024 at The Avalon of New Albany. He was born in Springfield, Ohio on March 20, 1926 to the late English natives, William and Florence (Maclaren) Starkey. In addition to his parents, Roy was preceded in death by his sister, Ida (Starkey) Spears, and ex-wife, Frances (Furry) Starkey.

Roy is lovingly remembered by his five children: Cheryl (Kenny) Jaeger, Thad Starkey, Cindy (Paul) Andrasek, Luke (Nadine) Starkey, and James (Adrienne) Starkey, along with his grandchildren: Alexandra Rensi, Shelley Luedemann, Nate Jaeger, Jeff Jaeger, Kendra Fogarty, Tyler Starkey, Sara Lanno, Chandler Starkey, Erin Starkey, Lauren Starkey, and Olivia Starkey. And nephews, Greg and Scott Spears.

At the age of 18, Roy was enlisted as a yeoman in the second class of the United States Navy. Roy served for 2 years from June 1944 - June 1946, and he was later awarded the World War II Victory Medal, as well as the American Campaign Medal. His greatest reward of all, however, was being granted the G.I. Bill, which funded his ultimate dream of becoming a physician. He graduated from The Ohio State University Medical School in 1954 and went on to pursue general practice in Columbus for 5 years before attending a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Residency at OSU. He established the first PM&R department at Grant Hospital and Central Ohio Medical Clinic, and he became a Chair of PM&R at Drake Hospital. He was a practicing physician at the Ohio Department of Disability up until his retirement at 78 years old. Laughter was his medicine in addition to helping many friends and family with health issues along the way .

Growing up during the depression made Roy a very frugal man. He was well known for being quite the penny pincher. He excessively clipped grocery coupons and routinely pocketed napkins, straws, ketchup and sugar packets from restaurants. He loved shopping because that was just another opportunity to entertain someone stocking the shelves or running a register . His sense of humor always was at times on the edge of being inappropriate , noted by his extensive T-shirt collection. Anything for a laugh for those with a sense of humor was his goal .

Roy was a hopeless romantic. Married and divorced twice, he would talk ad nauseam about soulmates. Each grandchild received “the lecture” about finding their soulmate and all prospective partners were given the soulmate questionnaire. Which he would later psychoanalyze at great length. He was also known for his flirtatious behavior. He would serenade any passing woman with the song I got you under my skin. He had at least 100 fiances as he was always asking women for their hand in marriage.

Roy loved music. He made yearly treks to New Orleans to attend the French Quarter Festival. As his vision failed he frequented more local jazz and blues venues. Not only did he enjoy listening to music but he also sang. He participated in many performances while living at The Avalon and would sing to the residents in the memory care unit with his friends, Frances and Kathleen.

Roy was very active until his stroke at age 93. He could be seen daily at Hoover Dam walking forward and backwards on the stairs or playing disc golf. If he wasn’t walking he was dancing. He enjoyed participating in the second line with random strangers at music festivals. He tried teaching his granddaughters to ballroom dance and suffered a lot of bruised toes for his efforts.

Roy enjoyed vacationing on Manitoulin Island in Ontario, Canada with family and friends. There he would fish, boat and eat ice cream to his heart’s content. As this was one of his favorite places on earth he has requested that some of his ashes be scattered there.

He was the ultimate host for holiday gatherings. He was frequently attired in his hole-ridden bathrobe or his Sunday best and serving wine that was on sale. An absolute delight to all that knew him. He was an undeniable presence in any room he entered and imparted much joy, laughter and wisdom to all he encountered.

A Celebration of Life for Roy will be held Thursday, August 1, 2024, at Schoedinger Northeast Funeral Home, 1051 E. Johnstown Rd., Gahanna, beginning at 4 pm with a public visitation reception afterwards from 5-7 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution in Roy’s name to Habitat for Humanity or a charitable organization of your choosing.