Lynn "Bo" Starks Jr.

1941 - 2023

Born in White Castle, Louisiana in 1941, Lynn ("Bo") Starks, Jr. was the eldest of four children from the marital union of Lynn Jefferson Starks, Sr. and Laura Dabney Starks. When he was school-aged, his family relocated to New Orleans, LA. His early education included time in both Iberville and Orleans Parishes. He attended Booker T. Washington High School in New Orleans, though completed high school studies at Iberville High School in Plaquemine in 1960. A few months later, Lynn enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle, he was a firefighter during his military service. After his honorable discharge, he set his sights on higher education. Using the benefits from the G.I. Bill, he enrolled in formal studies at Southern University in New Orleans. Completing his educational program in chemistry in three years in 1968 with a 4.0 GPA, he became the first in his family to complete college. It was there at SUNO that he met and courted Mary Randall who would become his wife in 1970. His scholastic success in college led him to be awarded a fellowship to complete a doctorate degree in geography and climatology at Indiana University Bloomington. Prioritizing family, he concluded graduate studies early, completing his Master of Arts in 1971 to return home full-time with his wife and newborn daughter. In the early 1970s, he began his thirty-year career in installations, maintenance, and facilities management at the Chalmette Refinery as an employee of Tenneco, Mobil Oil and ExxonMobil until his retirement in 2003. He was a staunch advocate for workers and was a union leader in the Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers (OCAW) Union, Local 4-522, representing workers' interest as a part of joint health and safety committees to prevent on-the-job harms. Relishing in the educational opportunities he had been given, he also was an adjunct professor at SUNO during his adult life. In 2020, he relocated to the Greater Houston area to be closer to his daughter and son and resided at MGB Care Home through his life's end. Lynn was baptized and accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and was a member of Brooks Methodist Church in New Orleans. Lynn departed this life on February 10, 2023 at the age of 81. He was preceded in death by his father, Lynn Starks, Sr., brothers, Herbert Louis Starks and Edward Starks, sister Barbara Jean Redcliffe, and mother, Laura Dabney Starks. Lynn is survived by his daughter, Allegra Starks, son, Steven Starks, and ex-wife, Mary Starks and leaves behind a legacy of courage, hope, and strength that will live on through his extended family, friends and all he touched in this world. Services will be held at Asbury Independent Methodist Church, 31755 Laurel Ridge Road, in White Castle, LA at 10 A.M. on Friday, February 24, 2023. Visitation will begin at 8 A.M. before the time of service. Interment will take place at the Asbury Church Cemetery. Funeral services are entrusted to Desselle Funeral Home, 263 Eddie Robinson Sr Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.