Martin Keith Starling

Martin Keith Starling, 60, formerly of Shawnee, Kansas, passed away quietly last Tuesday morning, October 20, 2009, after a long battle with cancer near his home in Manassas Virginia. Mr. Starling was a devoted father, son, brother and friend who will be deeply missed by his family.

Mr. Starling was born October 10, 1949 in Denver, Colorado, the second son of Everett J. and Dorothy Starling. Mr. Starling was a graduate of Shawnee Mission North Class of 1966 and joined the United States Army shortly after graduation. Martin specialized in helicopter maintenance while serving in Vietnam, beginning a long career in the field of aviation. He received an honorable discharge from the Army and attended Northrup Institute in California to study aircraft maintenance.

After graduation Martin relocated to Wichita, Kansas to pursue a career building and maintaining aircraft, where he lived on and off for 25 years. Martin also lived and worked on various aircraft projects in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Seattle, Washington, Greensboro, North Carolina and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Martin had recently retired with 31 years of service to Boeing Aircraft Corporation but his career included working for various aircraft manufactures including Cessna Aircraft, Beechcraft, Northrup Gruman and Gates/Learjet. Most recently, Mr. Starling was employed as agent for the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington D. C.

Martin's long career in aviation including working on the F-14 and F-18 fighter jets, the B-52 and Osprey helicopter/airplane, 767, 757, 787 passenger jets as well as Air Force One.

Martin enjoyed riding his motorcycle, fishing, shooting guns, taking photographs, working on cars, model airplanes, traveling spending time with spiritual pursuits, and caring for his youngest son, Peter, who is permanently disabled from Cerebral Palsy. He was also a member of the VFW Post 846, Overland Park, Kansas.

He is survived by his sons, James Starling, Anchorage, Alaska, Paul Starling, Goddard, Kansas, and Peter Starling, Wichita, Kansas; one grandson, James J. Starling of Anchorage, Alaska; and long-time companion and caregiver Janet McLaughlin of Manassas, Virginia. Other survivors included his mother, Dorothy Starling, Shawnee, Kansas; sister Rita Barker, Centennial, Colorado; brothers Everett L. Starling, Overland Park, Kansas, Thomas A. Starling, North Platte, Nebraska, John Q. Starling, Shawnee, Kansas and Daniel Starling, Brooklyn, New York.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to a trust fund set up to ensure care for Peter in the coming years. Please address any donations to the Peter Starling Irrevocable Trust, 2210 Sentry Drive, #2, Anchorage, Alaska 99507.

Visitation and Graveside Service

Visitation will be 7-9 p.m. Friday, October 23, 2009, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. A graveside service will be Saturday, October 24, at De Soto Cemetery in DeSoto, Kansas.