Thursday, May 2, 2024
Ronald Starnes, age 76, of Gatesville, gained his wings on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, surrounded by his family.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at Scott’s Funeral Home with Pastor Jimmy Skiles officiating. Interment with military honors followed at Restland Cemetery.
Ronald Wayne Starnes was born Nov. 1, 1947, to the late Delmer Schutes, and Ina and Travis Starnes in Wichita Falls. He grew up in the Abilene area and graduated from Abilene High School in 1966. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving two tours in Vietnam from 1967 until 1969. He met Linda Watson in Abilene in 1966, and they were married in Sweetwater in 1968. They had two children, Rhonda and Rodney. They were stationed in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Fort Richardson, Alaska, and Fort Hood, Texas. In 1978, he joined the Army National Guard and was employed at M.A.T.E.S. from 1980 until his retirement in 2007, having served 40 years and 10 months in the United States Army. Ronald was a man who loved God, his family, and his country. In 1978, he and his family made their home in Gatesville. He enjoyed hunting, rodeoing in Alaska, his dogs and horses. In his later years, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, golfing, traveling, gardening, and taking care of his property in the country. He was a member of Gatesville Masonic Lodge #197 A.F. & A.M. and Bee House Lodge #550 A.F. & A.M. in Evant.
Ronald is survived by his wife of 55 years, Linda Watson Starnes; children, Rhonda Starnes Bruner and husband, Wayne, of Bryan; Rodney Starnes and wife, Shelly, of Paradise; grandchildren, Hudson Hopkins, of Texarkana, Lance Gray and fiancé, Meghan, of San Diego, California, Henslie Starnes, of Fort Worth, Jackson and Morgan Bruner, of Bryan, Jonathan, Jacob, and Jonah Chagoya, of Paradise; sister, Gail Boone and husband, Carlton, of Brownsville; several cousins, nieces, and nephews; lifetime friends, James and Dawn Lanham, of Gatesville; and many friends.
