Herbert Sheldon Starr Jr.

Herbert Sheldon Starr, Jr., entered the world on October 14, 1944, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was welcomed to Heaven on May 6, 2025. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Linda who went to Heaven on September 22, 2021, whom he missed and anticipated reuniting with. He was also preceded in death by his grandparents Edgar and Dorothy Short (Tampa), his sister in law Melissa Dennis (Kentucky) whom he loved dearly, and sister in law Sandra Orr (Kansas) who often expressed thankfulness for his kindness and patience with her when she was a child and for teaching her "to tie her shoes when no one else could or would" which she never forgot.
He is survived by his daughter, Kymberly Starr Clements of Lakeland whom he adored his entire life and who will forever remain his "little girl", her husband Ricky Clements (Lakeland) for whom he was thankful. He is further survived by his brother-in-law William E. Dennis (Kentucky) his nephew Drew Dennis (Kentucky). He was always thankful for and is further survived by his devoted and much appreciated friend, Pastor Greg Davis of Plant City who visited Herb often during his final days.
Herbert was raised primarily by his grandparents and was known as "Herbie" by them and "Herb" to everyone else. He moved to Tampa, Florida as an infant and considered himself a Tampa native.
Herb served in the United States Navy, during the Vietnam War era, on the flight line working with airplanes. He also learned welding and was a welder by trade for the majority of his working life. He met his wife Linda in Lakeland, Florida and they were married on July 7, 1973, and remained married until her death in 2021. He cared for her selflessly during her long illness and was a devoted and loyal husband and father.
Herb was an active and athletic young man who enjoyed swimming and was an avid fan of boxing, especially of the "Great Mohammed Ali" as well as of Roberto Duran and George Foreman. He was musically inclined and could sing and play the trombone. He loved and was kind to animals and loved peanut butter, milkshakes, and southern gospel music.
Herb was in a motorcycle accident in 1971 in Tampa, Florida and suffered a massive brain injury and nearly died. He had to relearn to walk and speak again. He was miraculously spared due to the mercy of the Lord as well as his grandmother's prayers. He soon after became a born again Christian.
The thing Herb, a devoted Christian and former Sunday school teacher, most wanted the world to know was that he was, like the Apostle Paul once was, the "worst sinner of them all" but was saved by the grace of Jesus Christ in whom he believed and who changed his life and heart completely and who died, was buried and resurrected. Herb considered himself a witness to this miracle and never lost faith in Jesus because he would say "I met him. I know He's real because He saved an old reprobate like me."
Herb will be cremated, as was his wish and his ashes mixed with his wife's so that their bodies will be together for the resurrection.
Online condolences can be made at www.haught.care.
Funeral arrangements were trusted to Haught Funeral Home, 708 W. Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd Plant City, FL 33563, (813) 717-9300