Kenneth Randy Starnes

Kenneth Randy Starnes was born on July 23, 1950. Ken is what many would call a local legend. After his passing at age 73, nephews and friends have started sharing pictures, internet links, chats and stories. Ken's life had many seasons. We would say life really started changing when he left Red Hill at 18 to go to Vietnam. Because of his marksmanship, he became a door gunner on helicopters. As people entered or exited, it was his job to keep them safe. The life expectancy for door gunners was low, but he lived. He found his best friend in 1970 and Ken and Susan became a team in every way. She loved and took care of him all the days of his life. She found him after his return from Vietnam. They married on December 3, 1973. He became an industrial electrician and worked with many teams. H played softball for the Red Hill team locally and I am sure that was an experience being on his team or playing against him. The team that captured his heart was the Scottish Highland Athletics that he met through Fred Vaughan and what ensued was a passion to compete and be the best on the field. The metals, trophies, articles, and stories confirmed he was a winner. He put his heart into it and it was a big heart. He found working out to be an important part of his journey and he shared that with others. He and his cousin, Steve Corbett, kept each other motivated. One of his nephews started working out because of him, "He was my hero." He found passion for something and he lived. During this time as a Scottish Athlete, he was approached by not just a wrestling organization, but Hulk Hogan. He never became a wrestler because it was not something he really cared about. He wanted life his way, he wasn't a man who wanted to be controlled by others, instead he lived. He did it his way, he stayed where he loved to be, Red Hill. He stayed with his people, his mother, Lorene Corbett Starnes, his father, Wm A Starnes, Sr., who passed when Ken was 11. Having his sister Brenda and her boys Chuck (Susan), Eric and Alvin, was a part of it. When his brother William A Starnes, Jr. passed at too early an age his children Bill (June), Marty, and Teresa (Don), Melissa (DB) were added to his life. Ken had a special place in their lives; he became more than an uncle. His sister, Helen and husband, Alvin completed the family. He had his family, his Susan, and his dog. He retired from SCDOT and had been able to take care of what he thought needed taking care of doing what he wanted to do but that big heart was beginning to struggle. Tim Goodson was one of his best friends at this time and an ear to listen to him and an outlet for his frustrations. When he and Susan King married in 1973 he became part of her family. He was a son-in-law to Bill and Mitchell King, a brother-in-law to Kathy (Bud) Rollins, that added Laura and Trez as a new niece and nephew, then, Lawton (Dee) King with Joel, Aaron, Corey, Michelle, and Tonya completed the family. If you ever worked with him or were on a team with him or were fortunate enough just to know him, you know he was an honest and real man. He didn't take junk and when he smiled or laughed, it made you feel like you had touched the heart of a giant. He was a gentleman and for anyone that ever had a chance to be on a team with him, congratulations. You knew a winner and in doing so, you won. He was predeceased by his father, W.A. Starnes, Sr.; mother, Lorene Corbett Starnes; brother, W.A. Starnes, Jr.; sisters, Brenda Faye Nunnery and Helen Hancock; nephew, Eric Nunnery; and niece, Melissa Baird. A family-led memorial will be held at Red Hill Baptist Church on Saturday, July 13, at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice. If it happens to be a dog rescue or SPCA, even better; you know he loved his dog named, Dog.

Tributes

Kenneth Randy Starnes

July 23, 1950 - July 3, 2024