Regina Lucy Starkey

Regina Lucy Snyder (Jean) Starkey, 89, left us to begin her new life in heaven on January 30, 2009. She was born May 15, 1919 in Wheeling, West Virginia and resided there until June 2003, at which time she moved to Franklin County, Virginia. She was a selfless wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend. Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, John Edmund Starkey, Sr., her parents Walter Yagacevsky Snyder and Julia Snyder, brothers, Henry Snyder and Leonard Snyder, nephew Kenneth Snyder, granddaughter Vicki Lynn Blazer, and daughter-in-law Mary Ann Starkey. Left to cherish many fond memories are her three sons, Jerome Starkey (Sharon), of The Villages, Fla., John Starkey, Jr., of Wheeling, W.Va. and Scott Starkey, of Rocky Mount, Va.; two daughters, Donna Davis (Jim), of Alexandria, Va. and Judy Grimm (Mike), of Union Hall, Va.; eleven grandchildren, Jim and Tom Davis, Douglas, Anthony and Jason Starkey, Stephanie Egee, Michael and Paul Grimm, Heather Lapp, John Starkey, III and Robert Starkey; ten great-grandchildren; aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews; and a very special and loving niece, Carolyn Peterson, husband, Barry and the Peterson/Gildow family. Jean was a former employee of Wheeling Tile Works and Sylvania. She was a faithful member of Saint Vincent and Saint Michael's Catholic Church, Wheeling, W.Va., where she treasured her opportunities to attend Mass and worship the Lord. She will always be remembered for the countless ways she shared her love and joy with family and friends. Her faithfulness to God and love of her family will be a source of strength for those left behind and provide us with many loving memories that we will forever hold in our hearts. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the family and staff of TLC Adult Home for their comfort, compassion and love for the past five years. Mass and interment will be announced at a later date at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Wheeling, W.Va. At that time, family and friends will be invited to attend a Mass and gather to celebrate the life of Jean Starkey. Arrangements by Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Smith Mountain Lake, 540-721-9375.