Helene Starnes
On Sunday morning, January 5, 2020, a beautiful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Helene R. Starnes of Shreveport, LA, passed away peacefully in the presence of a loved one.
She was born in Fuchstadt, Germany on August 12, 1928. At the end of World War II, she met and married an American soldier, William N. Starnes of Denmark, MS. She was adventurous and courageous coming to the United States in the late 1940’s without the benefit of fluent English. As a military wife for 48 years until her husband’s death in 1995, she traveled and lived in many countries and worked and retired from both Dillard’s and Talbot’s Department Stores.
Helene loved gardening and earned the distinction of Master Gardener in her later years. She often received the Yard of the Month award in her community. Every morning while her coffee was brewing, she fed the birds in the backyard. Then sat at the kitchen table, read the Shreveport Times, and enjoyed the birds that flocked to the feeders. She was much loved by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by their five children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Children: William N. Starnes Jr. (SC) and wife Ann; Regina L. Starnes (TX), Katherina H. Pope (LA) and husband Tom; Russell G. Starnes (OR) and wife Kim; Christina M. Cabell (LA) and husband Scott. Grandchildren: John W. Starnes (Japan); Michel A. Charbit (FL); Cynthia B. Dowell (MD); Cherry H. Siegel (LA) and husband Mark; Angelique S. Ayanian (LA), Evan S. Cabell (LA), and Cathryn E. Cabell (LA). Great-grandchildren: Abigail, Sydney, and Mason Siegel (Cherry); Sahara Portlance (Cynthia); Yasmeen Dowell (Cynthia). She is also survived by her sister, Carola Sauer and husband Hans (Bad Kissingen, Germany); sister-in-law Leni Schmitt (Bad Kissingen, Germany); brother-in-law, Adolph Heinrich (Wurzburg, Germany) sister-in-law, Mary Lynn Mathis (TX); and many nieces and nephews throughout the United States and Germany.
She was preceded in death by her husband, CMSgt. William N. Starnes, USAF Ret.; her mother and father Therese R. and Andreas Schmitt (Bad Kissingen, Germany); father-in-law Top Starnes (MS) and wife Lula; her paternal grandparents Leni and Roman Schmitt (Bad Kissingen, Germany); maternal grandparents Katharina and Josef Kippes (Fuchstadt, Germany); paternal grandparents in-law Kin and Tula Vines (MS); sister, Lilly Heinrich (Wurzburg, Germany); brother, Eugene Schmitt (Bad Kissingen, Germany); brothers-in-law James W. Starnes (AR), Billy L. Welch (MS), and Bobby Mathis (TX), sisters-in-law, Janie Lou Welch (MS), Mildred Starnes Lawrence (TX), Jessie Starnes (AR), Allie Mae Hickey (TX), Vallie Faye Clifton (MS), and Carrie Starnes Perez (TX).
A memorial service conducted by Reverend Rich Dilling will be held at 11:00am on Monday, January 20, 2020, at Springdale Free Will Baptist Church, 1429 Highway 334, Oxford, MS. Burial will be held immediately after the service in Springdale Cemetery.
