Starky, 72, died March 2, 2011, in Cle Elum, Washington. He was born June 12, 1938, in Ronald and attended the Ronald School through 8th grade and graduated from Cle Elum High School in 1956.

He earned a degree in Education from Central Washington State College in 1962 before embarking on a 30-year career as a teacher and school administrator, during which he also served as a coach, athletic director and sports official.

Following retirement, Starky worked on his hay farm outside Cle Elum. He jumped from Winthrop in 1958, complementing work as a logger and for the Washington Department of Natural Resources and timber company Boise Cascade as he pursued his college education.