Paul Robert Starkey

He was born in Akron, Ohio on November 29, 1916 to Grover and Alberta Starkey. Paul grew up in Akron and then in Granger where he met his wife Betty Cooper. After 46 years of marriage, Betty passed away in 1986. Betty and Paul lived much of their married lives in Richfield and after his retirement they split time between Richfield and Cape Coral, Florida. On December 17, 1989 he married Ann Sir Louis and lived in Akron since then.

Paul helped his parents and four brothers and his sister with the family farm in Granger. At 14 years old he drove the school bus his father had purchased to take students to Granger High School. He graduated in 1936 and started working for the trucking firm Yankee Line. At the outset of World War II he was drafted into the 82nd Infantry Division. The 82nd Infantry was quickly split into the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division. Paul was a staff sergeant in Battery F, 81st Battalion, 327th Glider Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne. He was a proud but quiet member who served his entire military service in the 101st. He never spoke about his wartime experiences except to convey a couple of light hearted stories like the time he went up with the pilot of his glider and did a loop-d-loop after the war was over in Europe. He said that was the dumbest thing he ever did. When the war was over, he returned to work at Yankee Line where he became a salesman and terminal manager. He then joined Roadway Express as a salesman in the Akron and N.E. Ohio area and retired in 1976. After a couple of years, Paul then started a new career in real estate with Bethel realty.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Betty A. Cooper Starkey; his son, Robert L. Starkey; his parents; his sister, Mildred; and his four brothers, Thomas, Charles, James and Jack. He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Ann; his daughter, Patricia Walton Silver of Copley, his daughter-in-law, Barbara Robert Starkey of Richfield; grandchildren, Jason Carrie Silver, Jeff Kelly Starkey, Robert Faith Silver, Jennifer Adam Clark, Kristen Neil Silver-Moore and great- grandchildren, Shelby and Robert Starkey, Madeline and Sarah Silver and Leland Clark and Ann's children, Gene Sir Louis, Elizabeth Paisley, David Sir Louis and their families.

Playing golf, fishing, dancing, playing cards, reading are just a few of the things he enjoyed. Above all, he cherished his family thru out his life. He was always warm and welcoming with great interest in all that life was bringing his family and friends.

Paul was a member of the Richfield United Church of Christ. He was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the American Legion, VFW post 7971 in Copley and the 101st Airborne Division Association.

A special thanks to the staff of the Copley Health Center and the Hospice of VNS. For those who wish, contributions may be made to the charity of their choice in Paul's memory.

Services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, October 5th at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., with Rev. Raymond Deuring officiating. Interment at Rose Hill Burial Park where military honors will be conducted by the U.S. Army, Copley VFW Post 7971 and American Legion Post 473. Friends may call 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home where a Masonic service will be held at 3 p.m. by the Meridian Sun Lodge 69. Billow, 330-867-4141