Ruth Garcia Starnes, born in Winfield, Texas on September 16,1928, died September 13, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas at the age of 97. Ruth was the youngest child of Modesto and Prajedis Garcia. Ruth is survived by her daughter Leah Starnes Atkins of Arlington (Jim), grandson Cameron Atkins (Sarabeth) of Arlington, granddaughter Laurel Neuman (David) of Buda, Texas, four great-granddaughters Evelyn Neuman, Clara Neuman, Claire Atkins and Kendall Atkins, sister-in-law Ginger Garcia of McKinney, dearest friend Carmen Raggio of Boca Raton, Florida and a host of favorite nieces and nephews. Ruth was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Al Starnes, and her siblings.
Raised in Mount Pleasant, Texas, Ruth lived the majority of her life in Dallas. She was a life-long Christian and a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Grand Prairie. Her faith was an important part of who she was. Ruth loved her Lord Jesus and wanted others to know Him as well. Her faith was reflected in the way she lived- loving others, extending kindness, generosity, and genuine care for the people God placed in her life.
Throughout her life Ruth is best remembered for her lively personality, her loving and giving nature, her quick wit and her unique sense of humor. Ruth accepted people from all ages and walks of life warmly and with a genuine, loving manner that endeared her to all who knew her. From little children to senior adults, Ruth was widely known by her grandmother name, “Roosh”. Though small of stature, Ruth was a large presence in the lives of so many and remained a source of love and joy until her final day.
Family was of paramount importance to Ruth. Over the years the family home in Mount Pleasant became a gathering place during both times of celebration and sorrow. Family and friends gathered there to support one another, share laughter and simply enjoy being together. Those gatherings were filled with love, fellowship, noise, and the beautiful chaos that comes with a family spanning generations.
Countless memories of people and moments are woven into the lives of the friends and family that shared the warmth of the Garcia family. Ruth fully embodied this sense of family and passed it on to her daughter and to all her nieces and nephews. Her legacy lives on in the strength and closeness of the family today, and we are forever indebted to Ruth for the gift of family she gave us.
We give thanks to the Lord for sharing Ruth with us and by granting her such a long life. She made good use of the time she was gifted and enriched the lives of all who knew her. Ruth took her faith seriously and employed it in the way she led her life and reflected it to those in her life and to the world around her.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. – 2 Timothy 4:7
Visitation will be held at Bean-Massey-Burge Funeral Home Beltline Road, 2951 S. Belt Line Road, Grand Prairie, TX 75052, US, on October 2, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.
A Funeral will be held at Bean-Massey-Burge Funeral Home Beltline Road, 2951 S. Belt Line Road, Grand Prairie, TX 75052, US, on October 2, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Committal will be held at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211, US, on October 2, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 1:15 pm.
