John Wesley Starnes Sr. died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008, at the Mississippi State Veterans Home in Jackson. He was 89.

Mr. Starnes was born June 23, 1919, in Brandywine, Miss., to the late John F. Starnes and Johnny Myrtis McGowan Starnes. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940, serving in World War II in Australia and New Guinea for five years.

Mr. Starnes moved in 1947 to Vicksburg, where he was employed by the Water and Gas Administration as a meter reader, retiring in 1985 with 38 years of service. He was a member of the American Legion, Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church and the Men’s Bible Class.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty Tritz Starnes of Vicksburg; a son, John Wesley Starnes Jr. of Vicksburg; a daughter, Betty Lynne Starnes Ward of Brandon; four grandchildren, Karen Winstead, Melissa Jean Starnes, Mary Hughes and Chris McCollum; four beloved great-grandchildren, Stephanie Winstead, Damion Jefferson, Akirad Jefferson and Deja Jefferson; two sisters, Mary Lucille Benson and Eunice Fitzgerald, both of Meridian; and numerous relatives in Copiah and Claiborne counties.

Mr. Starnes was preceded in death by a brother, Frank Oren Starnes.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. `Saturday at Riles Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. T. Ed Hightower and Greg Hazelrigg officiating. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Shelton Cemetery in Copiah County.

Pallbearers will be Chris McCollum, Brian Winstead, Pat McKinney, Lucius Dabney, Donald Oakes, Marvin Anderson and Johnny O’Bannon.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. John C. Williams, Dr. Thomas Sligh, members of the Dabney Sunday school class and employees of the Vicksburg Water and Gas Administration.

Memorials may be made to Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church Building Fund, 335 Oak Ridge Road, Vicksburg, MS 39183.