Obituary of Fred Alan Starling

Wythe County resident, Fred Alan Starling, a beloved husband, father, Pawpaw and friend peacefully left this world at age 73 on June 5, 2025. He was born on October 26, 1951, and considered gaining his sobriety April 1,1989 to be a second birth. He is survived by: his loving wife of 45 years, Jane Grubb Starling; children Jessica Allene Starling (special friend Chris), Charles Wesley Starling (Sydney), Robert Alan Starling (Madeline); siblings Frank Starling Jr. (Celia), Emily Dickens (Richard); brothers-in-law Johnny Sink, Steven Grubb (Maxine), Tim Grubb, and Troy Grubb; grandchildren Stephen Alan Dube, Joshua Bradley Dube, Odin Clay Starling, and Edward Alan Starling; great-grandchild Harper Sage Dube; many nieces and nephews; and finally, unofficially adopted children and friends too numerous to count. Fred was born in St. Leo’s Hospital in Guilford County, NC. He grew up in the White Oak Mill Village. Some of his fondest memories were of his days growing up there, surrounded by family and friends and he often referred to himself as a “lint head”. Fred loved games and athletics, he honed his catching skills while “shagging” golf balls for his dad. He played baseball at Grimsley High School when his dream job was to play professional baseball for the New York Yankees. After High School he played slow-pitch softball and belonged to more than one national championship team. He continued to play competitively until his children began to play team sports, where he stayed involved by coaching and teaching them and their teammates. His sense of competitiveness lasted his entire life, and he continued to dominate his children and grandchildren in numerous board and card games which was one of his favorite pastimes. Up until his recent illness he continued to be physically active, taking exercise classes and walking/hiking regularly. Fred attended Wingate College and East Carolina University where he completed a Bachelor of Science and a master's degree in physical education with a minor in kinesiology. Upon his graduation in 1977, there were very few opportunities to teach. He got a job working as a billing clerk for Arkansas Best Freight and was promoted to open a new terminal in Wytheville, VA. That’s when he met his lifelong partner and love of his life Jane Grubb. They moved to Chattanooga, TN in 1979 where he worked in human resources for Dixie Yarns. He was a natural for the role with his outgoing personality and love of people. He continued in the field and branched into corporate training. This comprised most of his career with brief stints of owning a lawn business and teaching. His final job, prior to retirement in October of 2016, was working in the Cumberland County NC Human Resources department. Throughout his life he loved sports, history, music and cooking good food. He learned to cook eastern NC style BBQ and began to play harmonica while attending ECU. He excelled at both. These hobbies continued throughout his lifetime and helped him meet hundreds of friends and he was a positive loving influence on them all. As a man of faith, Fred began his life attending church with his family and as he aged and gained wisdom his love of God grew and became paramount to who he was. He was always willing to sit and talk to anyone about their faith, struggles and sobriety. He was a hugely positive influence in the world. As proven by his longstanding sobriety one of his best personality traits was his ability to recognize when he was wrong and needed to change. A loving husband and father, he never stopped encouraging his children and others to be their best version of themselves. There is no doubt that he is resting in eternal peace enjoying the friends and family members who went before. Fred lived a beautiful, fulfilled life with purpose. Always a smile, the best sense of humor and clever quips. The best way to honor him is to live like Fred, and love like Fred. A funeral service will be held on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM in St. Paul UMC 330 Church St. Wytheville, VA 24382.In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in his memory to: Open Door Cafe, 650 W. Main St, Wytheville, VA 24382 opendoorcafewytheville.org; St. Paul UMC 330 Church St, Wytheville, VA 24382 stpaulumc.church; Good Samaritan Hospice, 4751 Cove Rd. Roanoke, VA 24017; or any organization in your community that cares for those in need. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.grubbfuneralhome.com Grubb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.