|
|
Francis
Eugene and
Ruth Peeler Starnes Upon finishing Catawba College, Francis Starnes joined his mother in business and very quickly became prominent in civic and business affairs in Albemarle and the state. He was one of the early members of the American Gem Society and one of the first Registered Jewelers in North Carolina. As his father had done before him, he married into a prominent Stanly County farming family. Ruth Peeler Starnes was the daughter of Barney and Daisy Peeler of the Misenheimer community. Francis and Ruth Starnes had three children, Patricia Starnes Bramlett of Albemarle, Francis Eugene Starnes of Albemarle and Judy Starnes Brasington of Charleston, S.C. Francis and Ruth Starnes lived their entire married lives in the Starnes home built by his father in 1928. They entertained often, making the house available for all sorts of family and civic events, one of the most notable being piano recitals and contests making use of the Steinway piano that graced the main parlor. They were avid sports car enthusiasts, driving their red Porsche in numerous local and national rallies. On one occasion Ruth Starnes drove onto an unexpectedly soft shoulder, causing the car to flip onto its top. The couple climbed out through a window, rocked the car up onto its wheels and finished the rally. Francis Starnes served on the boards of directors of First National Bank of Albemarle and M and J Finance Company in Shelby. He served as president of Albemarle Lions Club and was an active member of Central United Methodist Church and the Chamber of Commerce. Ruth Starnes was also active in community and church
affairs. She was a Sunday School teacher in the children’s department at
Central United Methodist Church for many years and was active in the Yadkin
River Patriots Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a graduate
of Mitchell School (now Pfeiffer University) and shortly before her death
endowed the Starnes Award, a prize given annually to one or more members of the
Pfeiffer faculty or staff for outstanding achievement. Ruth Starnes was also
instrumental in the restoration of the Gower Cottage on the Pfeiffer campus. The
Starnes family endowed two scholarships at Pfeiffer University
awarded to outstanding students from Stanly County. Francis Starnes
died in November 1976. Ruth Peeler Starnes died in January 1996. |