Dec. 11, 1919 – May 24, 2011
Delbert E. Starr, 91, of Sweet Home, died May 24, 2011 at Wiley Creek Community.
He was born Dec. 11, 1919 in Alpine to James and Lou (Thiele) Starr, the third of three children, with an older sister and brother. He grew up in Coos County, graduating from high school in Coquille.
Mr. Starr married Doris King of Sweet Home on April 18, 1943 in Anchorage, Alaska. He soon joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, now the Air Force, and flew C-46 cargo and B-25 airplanes in the 101st Airborne Division until the end of World War II.
After the war, the Starrs returned to Sweet Home, where they built their first home. The following spring, they moved to Alaska until 1949, when they returned to Lebanon. They settled in and remained in Lebanon until November 2010, when they moved to Wiley Creek Community in Sweet Home.
Mr. Starr worked as a construction contractor for most of his career. He spent several years building houses with his brother as Starr Builders and later was a partner in CPS Construction, doing industrial construction. After retirement from CPS, he started a construction company in Alaska with his two sons, Jim and Dennis.
Mr. Starr is survived by his wife, Doris; son Craig and daughter-in-law Sharon, and Jim and daughter-in-law Martha, all of Lebanon; daughter Sheri and son-in-law Scott Richardson of Oregon City, and Kim and son-in-law Mark Prescott of Albany; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Verna; brother Roy; and son Dennis.
Services were held May 27 at Sweet Home Evangelical Church, with burial at Gilliland Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in Mr. Starr’s name to Evergreen Hospice.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.