Roy Denton Starnes

A native of Asheville, he was the son of the late Walter Byron and Maggie King Starnes.

He was a longtime member of Central United Methodist Church and the Carl B. Hyatt Sunday School class, of which he was class pianist up until his death. He graduated from Biltmore High School in Asheville in 1931 and Young Harris College in Young Harris, Ga. in 1933. He continued with his piano studies at Birmingham Southern Conservatory of Music in Birmingham, Ala., graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1937 and where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He was in private business owning Roy’s Paint and Wallpaper Store for over 20 years and was a charter member of the Golden K Kiwanis Club.

Mr. Starnes is survived by his wife, Jane H. Starnes of the home; three children, Shirley Starnes Sobol of Black Mountain, Connie Starnes Driskell of Arden and Roy E. “Bucky” Starnes of Asheville; a brother, Ralph O. Starnes of High Point; a grandchild, Morgan Sobol Ortiz of Asheville and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2 pm Saturday in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian conducted by the Revs. Rob Blackburn and Christy Harley. Interment will follow in Green Hills Cemetery. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be members of the Golden K Kiwanis Club.

The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Long Shoals Road.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church Street, Asheville, NC 28801.