Vance L. Starkey
Vance L. Starkey, 73, died Nov. 25, 2011, in Austin after a long battle against lung cancer. He was born Jan. 2, 1938, in Morgantown, W. Va., to O.V. and Virginia Starkey.
He attended West Virginia University and was a lifelong sports fan of his alma mater. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division of the Army, specializing in parachute landing operations, and was based out of Fort Bragg, N.C.
He managed Montgomery Ward’s department stores in West Virginia, New York, Maryland and Virginia.
In Texas, he was a managing partner of the Furniture and Design Center of Marble Falls.
He later went to work for Lacks Furniture and served as an Austin store manager for 24 years. He operated with great wisdom, and he cared deeply about his employees.
He retired from Lacks in April 2008 and moved to Montgomery so that he could be close to his grandchildren and enjoy his favorite pastime of fishing on Lake Conroe.
As his health declined, he returned to Marble Falls where he lived until his death.
His grandchildren referred to him as “Papa.”
Survivors include his daughters Melissa Starkey Rathmann and Amanda Starkey Hahn, both of Houston; grandchildren Meredith Rathmann, Carson Hahn and Cameron Hahn; his former wife Jan Starkey of Marble Falls; his loyal canine companion Maddie; his Lacks family and a host of friends; and extended relatives.
Services will be private, but a celebration of life gathering will be held later.
His family expresses their gratitude to doctors Brian J. Shimkus, John J. Costanzi and Henry J. Legere III, and the special nurses at Austin Cancer Center who cared for him with such compassion.
Condolences can be offered at www.clementswilcoxfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 1805 U.S. 281 North in Marble Falls, (830) 693-4373.