Paul Clifford Starks, Sr.

GARNER - Paul Clifford Starks, Sr., 93, of 8117 Hebron Church Road, passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2016 peacefully at home from congestive heart failure. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Virginia Ramsey Starks; daughter, Paula Guthrie (Scott) of Greensboro, NC;  daughter, Susie Wilkey (Travis) of Cary, NC;  and son, Paul Clifford Starks, Jr. (Judy) of Holly Springs, NC.  Beloved grandchildren are Jennifer Brezina (Paul) of Memphis,TN; Mike Guthrie (Kathryn) of Garner, NC;  Brooke Morgan (Eric) of Cary, NC; Paige Wilkey of Cary, NC;  Megan Starks of Aliso Viejo, CA, and Holly Starks of Raleigh, NC. Great grandchildren are Zachary, Elijah and Jace Morgan, Will and Caroline Brezina. Surviving also are brother, Dr. Kenneth Starks of Oklahoma City; sister, Kathryn Brown of Clayton, NC and numerous nieces and nephews. Paul was born in Bellevue, Texas, the son of the late Myrtle Sullenberger Helms. He spent most of his early years living in the western Oklahoma towns of Reydon, Butler and Clinton. Four very influential people in Pauls young life were his grandparents, Asher and Lucy Sullenberger and Uncle Claud and Aunt Kathryn Bell of Hollis, OK. They loved him, nurtured him and helped raise him. He was very grateful to have them in his life. In Oct.1942, he joined the Army where he served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, particularly Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. He was honorably discharged in Oct. 1945 and was honored to serve his country and always spoke with great pride about those years.  After returning from the war, Paul taught school in the one room school house in Osceola, Oklahoma.  It was there that he met his future wife, Virginia.  They were married on May 25, 1946. Soon after, they traveled to Norman, Oklahoma where Paul continued his college education at the University of Oklahoma, graduating in 1949.  Upon graduation, they moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where he served as an elementary school principal at Highland Park from 1949-1967.  He brought an enthusiasm and creativity to his position there as both science teacher and principal. He often brought live fish that he caught to place in an aquarium in the school, taught his science students how to take a radio apart, had square dance club for his 6th graders on Friday and coached the basketball and football teams-all to his delight!!  Never one to do the ordinary, he had a zest for life that never ended! In 1967, Paul began a new career. Encouraged by a favorite brother-in-law, Dwaine Goldsberry, who saw in Paul, the quality of being a hard-worker, Paul bought a Ditch Witch Dealership in Amarillo, Texas. Leaving his family behind in Bartlesville for several months to try and make a “go” of this entirely new job, Paul lived in the rented building of his new business and began to learn a new trade.  It was grueling work, but his work ethic, determination and his desire to always do right by his customers paid off. Soon, his family joined him. In 1970, he was given the chance to move to North Carolina to open a Ditch Witch Dealership. Beginning in Durham and then moving to the current location in Garner, NC, Paul continued to use his God-given talents and built a successful dealership, always meeting the needs of his customers and forging lasting friendships along the way. Working alongside his son, Cliff, and son-in-law, Travis, Paul finally pulled out of the day to day operations in the 1990s. Paul was an avid fisherman his whole life. Being an Oklahoma boy, he loved lake fishing best of all. Taking his children fishing was a regular activity. Every summer was filled with camping and fishing trips. He enjoyed fishing with his family at Grand Lake and at the lakes in Arkansas. In the Carolinas, he fished Kerr Lake and Santee Cooper.  Fishing trips to Canada with his family and friends were especially enjoyed. And, more recently, fishing in the pond behind his house, with his great- grandchildren was an extension of that passion.  He wanted us all to experience that with him. Our dad was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and good friend. He brought a smile and joy to all in his presence. He was a caring man that loved people and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A Service will be held Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 2:00 pm, Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 1200 Benson Road, Garner, NC.  Visitation will precede the service starting at 12:15 pm.  A family burial will be held at Pinecrest Memorial Park, Clayton, NC.  A reception will be held at Ditch Witch of NC immediately following the service. Flowers are appreciated or memorial contributions can be made to the Garner Veteran’s Memorial at Town of Garner, attn: Garner Veteran’s Memorial 900 7th Ave. Garner, NC 27529.