John Starrett - Obituary

ohn Edward “Jack” Starrett, 88, a 40-year resident of Loch Haven in Edgewater, died August 13 at Sunrise of Annapolis Assisted Living. Born on April 13, 1925 in Ottawa KS to the late Howard and Agnes Starrett, Jack grew up in Hannibal, MO and was raised by his caring parents and a doting aunt and uncle. When his mother was forced to live in a tuberculosis sanitarium, Jack’s father was determined to keep Jack and his brother together. They lived on a farm with no electricity, phone, running water or indoor plumbing. They also lived in a series of rooming and boarding houses. In the summers of 1941 and 1942, Jack hitchhiked 300 miles to work in a Del Monte cannery in Rochelle, IL. He married Marjorie Porter in 1948 and they moved in 1950 to Washington, DC where Jack began working as a mail clerk at the War Department. He advanced through various jobs and in 1961 relocated his family to Munich, Germany to work as a Controller in the Department of Defense. In 1963 the family moved to Bremerhaven, Germany where they lived until moving to Loch Haven in 1967. At that point Jack accepted a position in HQ U.S. Army Staff, Corp of Engineers, where he was recognized as Highly Qualified. He retired in 1980 to pursue interests in handicapping horses, writing, genealogy, fishing, boating, traveling and painting. He is a past president of the Loch Haven Civic Association. In addition to his parents, Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Porter, who died in 2000 and his brother, William Starrett. He is survived by a son, John E. Starrett, Jr. of Middletown, CT; a daughter, Joanne Hogan of Edgewater; a sister, Mary Hawkins of Kirksville, MO; a grandson, Brandon Hogan of Charlotte, VA and three granddaughters, Katelyn Hogan of Charlotte, VA, Nicole Starrett of Los Angeles, CA and Laura Starrett of Middletown, CT. Friends are invited to Jack’s Life Celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 15 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 16 at Lakemont Memorial Gardens, 900 Central Ave., Davidsonville. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Hwy., Pasadena, MD 21122. An online guestbook is available by accessing the link above. Jack’s family wishes to thank the dedicated staff at Sunrise of Annapolis for the wonderful care provided to Jack the past three years.