Starr, Rev. Ernest J. 1882-1966

STARR, DAVIS, BUMP, BARTHOLOMEW, MCELHINNEY, WALKER, SMITH

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 9/14/2012 at 14:11:39

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Monday, November 28, 1966

REV. ERNEST STARR SUCCUMBS; RITES HELD SATURDAY

The Rev. Ernest J. Starr, 84, resident of the Mayflower Home this past year, died early Thursday morning at a local hospital following an illness of two weeks.

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon from the Grinnell Methodist church with the Rev. Chester Custer, pastor, and the Rev. R.O. Grote, minister of the Conrad Methodist church, officiating. Organ music was provided by Elbert Smith.

Casket bearers were Robert Mitchell, Ellis Brown, Raymond George, George Hans, Carlyle Phipps and Gordon Halverson. Burial was in Hazelwood cemetery with Smith Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Mayflower Home chapel with the Rev. Lawrence Murphy officiating.

He was the son of James David and Lucy Frances Davis Starr, and was born near Westfield, southwest of Grinnell, on June 1, 1882. He attended the schools near his home and graduated from Grinnell high school. Rev. Starr attended Iowa Wesleyan College at Mt. Pleasant for several years prior to his marriage to Gertrude E. Bump, on Nov. 4, 1903, in Grinnell.

To this union were born four children: Mrs. Floyd (Lois) Bartholomew of Conrad, Robert M. Starr of Mankato, Minn., Mrs. T.R. (Mary Frances) McElhinney of Appleton, Wis., and Everett J. Starr of Takoma Park, Md.

Mrs. Starr preceded him in death on April 8, 1929. He was married to Miss Flora Walker on Sept. 30, 1931, at Brooklyn. She preceded him in death on May 28, 1963.

Rev. Starr began his 60 years in the Methodist ministry at Ewart, near Grinnell, and then served as boys director of the YMCA at Mt. Pleasant and Waterloo. During that time he continued his college education and received his B.A. and B.Th. degrees at Dubuque University.

He had held some 10 different pastorates in northeast Iowa, serving the North Iowa District of the Methodist church. Following his retirement, Rev. Starr lived at the Bethany Home in Dubuque until moving to Grinnell and the Mayflower Home. While at Mayflower Home he was chaplain.

Surviving include his four children, 13 grandchildren, and 37 great grandchildren. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Gertrude; his second wife, Flora; two brothers, James and John Starr; and one sister, Mrs. Ella Smith.