Ed Starr

Edward (Ed) Starr, Jr. passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, November 8, 2022, at The Plaza of Edgemere in Dallas. He has now entered the Church Triumphant and is in the glorious presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Ed was three weeks shy of his 99th birthday.

Ed was born in Waco November 29, 1923, at home, to Mary Eula and Edward Starr, Sr. Ed attended Sanger Avenue Elementary, where he met his life-long friend Jay Naman. He also attended North Junior High School and Waco High School. It was at Waco High School he met and became friends with the legendary football coach, Paul Tyson. Ed excelled on the football field and was named a Texas High School All-Star in 1941. Ed played in the Texas High School All-Star game in Abilene in the winter of 1942 with teammate Tom Landry. Ed graduated in the spring of 1942 and accepted a football scholarship to Southern Methodist University. Ed loved his one year at SMU. He played freshman football, pledged Kappa Alpha Order, and made many life-long friends. In the summer of 1943, while Ed was working at the University Park Fire Department, he received his orders to transfer to the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. While at UNC, he lettered in football as he prepared to enter the war in the Pacific.

In the spring of 1944, Ed was sent to Quartermasters School in Bainbridge, Maryland. His crew help to sailor their newly built LST 1030 (The Ring-Dang-Doo) down the coast to Norfolk, Virginia. After weeks of training, he and his crew headed south to Cuba, then through the Panama Canal, and up the coast to San Diego. From there the ship headed to Hawaii and then to the South Pacific. LST 1030 served our country well earning two battle stars for the Battle of Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in the spring of 1946 in Oklahoma City and hitched hiked his way back to Waco.

Upon his return to Waco, Ed immediately resumed his college education at Baylor University. He joined the Baylor Bear football team as a scholarship winner and played two seasons in 1947 and 1948. Ed graduated from Baylor in the spring of 1949 with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Before his senior year during the summer of 1948, Ed met the love of his life while working at the Sun Valley Inn and Lodge. Ed drove to Idaho with his best friend, Jay Naman. Ed first spotted the beautiful blond girl while playing softball after work. He hit a home run that day and caught Ginnie’s attention. They formally met before a picture show that evening at the local theater. It was love at first sight. Ed and Ginnie married at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, California, on June 25, 1949. They settled in Waco and built their first home on 43rd Street in Waco. Several years later their first child, Michael, was born and a year later their second son, Mark, was born. In 1960 the young family moved to Pasadena, California. After eight wonderful years, they moved back to Waco.

In 1968 Ed joined Texas National Bank as a Vice President of Bank Marketing. He made many great friends in business. He earned an advanced degree at SMU’s Graduate School of Banking. He retired from banking in 1987 after 19 years with the bank.

Ed was an athlete all his life. He grew up playing baseball, basketball, and football. After college he learned to play golf and enjoyed playing with his wife, sons, and friends. Ed and Ginnie loved their many trips to the mountains of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Sun Valley, Idaho. They also enjoyed many great trips to Sea Island, Georgia, with sister Elizabeth and brother-in-law Raymond Marlow and cousins Rosemary and Doug Perry.

Ed loved his Baylor Bears. He and Ginnie attended many Baylor football games both home and away. They were also supporters of both Baylor's men's and women's basketball teams.

Ed was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church of Waco. He served many years as a greeter/usher, Deacon, and Elder. Ed was a mason for over 70 years. He was past president of the Baylor Bear Club, past president of Baylor Business School, and past president of Ridgewood Country Club.

Ed was a loving son to his parents and in-laws, a great brother to his sisters, a loving husband to his wife, Ginnie, for over 52 years, a wonderful father to his sons, a fantastic Papa to his grandchildren, and a loyal friend to many.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Starr, Sr. and Eula Mary Laster Starr; half-brothers, Weldon and Clarence Starr; half-sister, Annie Mary Finley Barrett; beloved wife, Virginia Lee Steitz Starr; and sister, Elizabeth Starr Marlow.

Ed is survived by his son, Michael James Starr, of McKinney; children, James and Crisshan, from Georgia; son, Mark Edward Starr and wife, Jackie, from Irving; and children, Elizabeth and William, of Dallas. Ed has five great-grandchildren who live in Georgia.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home in Waco, on Friday, November 11 (Veterans Day), at 2:00 p.m.. A reception will follow the service in the garden room.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider contributing to the Baylor University Athletic Department.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.