He was born on July 13th, 1934 and preceded in death by his wife of over 60 years - Faye Marie (Shook) Starnes, parents – Roy (‘Shorty’) Starnes and Rose Marie (Sharpe) Starnes, brothers - Ed Starnes, Hershel Starnes and Herbie Starnes, and his daughter - Ellen Marie (Starnes) Rice.
He was a veteran of the United States Navy where he served with honors as a Hospital Corpsman, 1st Class. He was also a member of American Legion Post 48 and participated in the American Legion Honor Guard where he served many Veterans. After his military service, he joined the United States Postal Service where he served as a postal clerk and mailman on both city and rural routes. He worked for the USPS for over 30 years and retired twice from it. While he was raised a Baptist, he was active in the Christian life of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod where he served as a deacon. As with his wife, his strength of character and sense of humor will be sorely missed by all those who knew him.
He is survived by his brother, RJ Starnes of Hickory, loving son – John Eric Starnes and wife, Veronika (Grzegoszczyk) Starnes of Radlin, Poland, his beloved grandson Michael Rice and son Mason, as well as his family Sunnie, Landon and Ally. He will be avidly missed by his son-in-law Roy Neal (Dusty) Rice, Marvena and Allen Crowe, Mitchell and Leigh Starnes and their children, Patrick and Marta. He touched the lives of many with his gregarious nature and was quick to tell a joke and be of service to anyone who needed help. His loss will be deeply felt by the members of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. As with his wife, his surviving loved ones are spread throughout the South and overseas: Jack Hedrick of Biloxi, Mississippi, Jim and Wanda Hallman of Taylorsville, NC, Cindy and Jeanie Hedrick and their families of Catawba County, NC, Scott and Cindy Malcolm and family of Lake Wylie, South Carolina, and the Starnes and Grzegoszczyk families of Radlin, Poland.
John will lie in state Wednesday, November 25, 2020 from 11:00am to 7:00pm at Hickory Funeral Home, due to Covid restriction to avoid large gathering.
Graveside service will be held Friday, November 27, 2020 at 11:00am at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod with Pastor David Ziehr and Vicar Andrew Thompson officiating. Burial will follow in church cemetery with Military Honors by Amvets Post 76.
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