Obituary of Ralph Allen Starke

Ralph Allen Starke, 70, of West Peabody died peacefully Wednesday at his home surrounded by his family after a 2 year illness. He was the husband of Anne (Felton) Starke with whom he shared 30 years of marriage. He was born in Cambridge, Ma, the son of the late Peter and Denzile (Dow) Stark Sr. and was raised there and had been a resident of Peabody for the past 21 years. He served his country in the US Air Force from 1957 until his discharge in 1963. He then was employed at the United Shoe Machinery Corp. in Beverly and in Boston as a company service representative for 34 years prior to his retirement. Surviving him besides his wife are a sister, Helena Starke of Malden and her daughter, Rene Starke a special niece who was raised in his home, both of Malden, a sister-in-law, Ardell Starke of Bridgewater, and ten nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by three older siblings, Peter Starke Jr. and Willis “Bud” Starke both of Bridgewater and Bernice Starke of Somerville. A visitation will be held on Sunday from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 82 Lynn St., Peabody facility. His funeral will be held on Monday at 9:00 AM from the Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Adelaide’s Church, Lowell St., West Peabody at 10:00 AM. Burial will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, West Peabody. Expressions of sympathy may be made to American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 or to Hospice of North Shore, 10 Elm St., Danvers, Ma 01923 in his memory.