COLUMBUS
Jane K. Starr, 79, of Columbus, passed away at 9:12 a.m. Saturday, February 5, 2022 at Traditions of Columbus.
Jane was born March 13, 1942, in Chelsea, Michigan, the daughter of Russell A. and Jean Frances Dancer McLaughlin. On June 16, 1962, she married Gordon Starr.
Mrs. Starr was an elementary school teacher with a reading endorsement for 32 years. She simply loved teaching children to read. Her family and grandchildren were very important to her. Jane enjoyed working on puzzles and traveling with her friend and soulmate, Gordon. Jane’s caring nature and willingness to help others, through teaching, will be greatly missed by those that knew her.
Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Gordon; children, Michael (Judy) Starr of Rochester, Minnesota, Maureen (David) Moore of Columbus, Indiana, Mark (Nittaya) Starr of Durham, North Carolina; grandchildren, Ashley Moore of Columbus, Indiana, Dayton (Kelsay) Moore, of Columbus, Indiana, Chandler Starr, of Rochester, Minnesota, Corbin Starr, of Rochester Minnesota, Kayla Starr, of Rochester, Minnesota, David Starr of Durham, North Carolina, Emma Starr, of Durham, North Carolina, great-grandchildren; Emmalynn Moore,of Columbus Indiana and Waylon Moore of Columbus, Indiana; brothers, James McLaughlin of Harbor Springs, Michigan, David (Jane) McLaughlin of Spring Lake, Michigan; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Jane grew up in the town of Chelsea, Michigan, which is famous for Jiffy Mix products and Jeff Daniels, actor and musician. In fact, Jane baby sat for Jeff because the families were close friends. She attended and graduated from Chelsea High School as valedictorian of her 1960 graduating class. She was a cheer leader and played in the band. After graduation, she continued her education at The Ohio State University, enrolling in the College of Education. It was in college that Jane met her husband, Gordon. Right after the wedding, the happy couple went to Pensacola, Florida, where Marine 2nd lieutenant Gordon started his flight training as a helicopter pilot. In a year and a half, the happy couple and an infant son, Michael, drove to Orange, California because Gordon was assigned to a Marine Helicopter Squadron. In 1964, daughter, Maureen was born.
Jane continued her education all during the time she was caring for a family. In December, 1965, Gordon was ordered to serve in Vietnam, and Jane moved the two children back to her home town in Chelsea, Michigan where she had family and friends who could support her. At the time of the move, Jane was four months pregnant with their third child, a son, Mark.
These were not easy times for Jane, but she was strong and resilient. She had to be. Her husband asked her how in the world did go grocery shopping with three children all under the age of four years old? She answered that she was able to do it because she had good children which does not happen by accident. It takes love and work.
Gordon returned from the war and the young family moved to Niagara Falls, New York where Gordon was employed by Bell Aerosystems Company. Jane immediately continued her college education at the State University of New York, Buffalo. Jane was education driven. She was determined to become a teacher. She had to attend several universities to achieve her goal, but she did it by earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography from California State College Fullerton. Gordon was hired by Cummins Engine Company and moved the family to Columbus. Jane immediately enrolled in Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis. She earned her teachers certificate, a Masters Degree in Education, and a reading endorsement. While going to school to complete her education, she began her teaching career at the Edinburgh School Corporation. After one year at Edinburgh, she was hired into the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation as a reading teacher at Columbus North High School. She focused on helping high school students improve their reading skills. She then moved on and started teaching children in the elementary grades. This was her true calling and helped to define who she was.
Jane loved her students especially the second grade students. This was her favorite. She did not teach school, she built lives. When going to the grocery store, she was often stopped by one of her students. She never turned them away. Every year she had a spring time party for her students because she wanted to show them that she lived in a house and had a family just like they did.
In addition to her students, she loved her children and grandchildren. They were very special to her and she tried her best to provide special opportunities for them such as a trip to the Indianapolis Zoo, to Disney World, King’s Island, and everyone’s favorite, Holiday World.
Jane had a deep faith in her Lord. She was not flamboyant about it. She was not a leader, but she was a loyal and devoted follower. She coupled being a servant with her love of education by helping to found the preschool at Faith Lutheran Church. She did not teach there but she enabled it to be started and flourish. She has crossed over from life to everlasting life. She is now home. She is with her Lord.
In keeping with the family’s request, cremation will take place and a celebration of life service will be conducted at 12:00 p.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Larry Isbell officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service Saturday at the church. The celebration of life service can be viewed online with the link:
or by navigating to the FLCColumbus channel on YouTube and finding “Celebration of Life Service for Jane Starr.”
The wearing of masks is a personal responsibility and are not required. However, if you are feeling the onset of symptoms please be considerate of others and view the service as described above.
Inurnment will be at Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Lutheran Church.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with Jane’s family and a video tribute may be viewed at barkseweaverglick.com.
Arrangements entrusted to Barkes, Weaver &Glick Funeral Home.
