Donald Dean Starling, Sr. Donald Dean Starling, Sr., age 76, of Tot Dellinger RD. passed away Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Carolina HealthCare Cleveland. He was born on January 24, 1941 in Mt Airy, North Carolina to the late Fred Jones Starling and Mary Elizabeth Inscore Starling Gwyn. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his beloved uncle, Claude Starling. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Shirley Anne Black Starling; children, Deanne Moss and husband, Randy and Dean Starling and wife Margaret, both of Cherryville; grandchildren, Ethan Crocker of Honduras, Eric Starling of Raleigh ad Kaitlin Starling of Cherryville, also an "adopted" granddaughter, Chelsea Shultz and her two sons of Lincolnton; sisters, Kay Hiatt and husband, Leon of Mt. Airy and Linda Allred and husband, Wayne of Rural Hall. Don was member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. A Mason, he was a member of Masonic Lodge 505. He retired from Carolina Freight Carriers, where he was director of insurance and claims. He served on the boards of Club Carolina, Cherryville Country Club and Carolina Federal Credit Union. Don's interest include spending lots of time with his grandchildren and the rest of his family. He was greatly loved by his and Shirley' extended families. Golfing and fishing, both freshwater and salt water, were activities he enjoyed and spent much time pursuing. In recent years he and Shirley have spent much time at their coastal home in Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina. A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, March 8, 2017, at 2:00 PM at Mt Zion Baptist Church with Rev. Wayne Key officiating. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends Wednesday after the services in the church fellowship hall and other times at the home. Memorials may be made to Salvation Army, 1884 S. New Hope Rd Gastonia, NC. 28054 and Cherryville Area Ministries, 212 N Mountain Street, Cherryville, NC 28021 Condolences may be made to www.carpentersfuneralhome.net