Penny C. Starr

August 19, 1932-February 8, 2024

Frank C. Starr

September 20, 1930-December 27, 2024

Penny C. Starr passed away February 8, 2024 and Frank C. Starr on December 27, 2024.

Penny was adopted by Anna Mae and John Ira Clemens shortly after her birth, August 19, 1932, and lived her first 14 years in Pittsburg, Kansas. Frank was born to Mabel Palmer and Frank Cleveland Starr, September 20, 1930, in Columbus, Ohio where he lived until Penny and Frank moved to Ridgway, Colorado in 1983.

Penny was 14 when she moved to Columbus with her family when her father moved his coal mining company. The next year she met Frank Starr and life took a track they shared completely for 75 years, marrying in 1953. Penny attended The Ohio State University (OSU), receiving her degree in Dental Hygiene. After serving in the United States Navy, Frank attended OSU, receiving a degree in Dental Surgery. Frank completed service in the United States Air Force as a dentist.

Penny and Frank had three daughters, Loran (deceased 2021), Carin and Kristin (Davis). Frank had a successful dental practice, was on the faculty at OSU, served as the President of the Ohio Audubon Society and was active in many community programs including Rotary. Penny was a community leader, homemaker, and was deeply involved in lobbying for the Alaska Lands legislation for the National Audubon Society. She was running for the Ohio State Senate in 1982 but withdrew when Penny and Frank chose a new path for their lives. They returned to OSU completing master’s degrees in Wildlife Management. For the next 15 years they worked together as seasonal interpretive and back-country law enforcement rangers with the National Park Service (NPS). Those years were later captured in a book written by Frank from the logs Penny kept throughout their work in the NPS, “Over the Rainbow, the Road Taken”.

In 1983 they bought 50 acres on Log Hill Mesa in south-western Colorado and built their home. When not working in the NPS, Penny remained deeply involved in politics, the local school system, and Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado. Frank helped establish the Log Hill Volunteer Fire Department, was President of the local Rotary and served on the Board for the Tri-County Water Conservancy District. They traveled extensively to Africa, the Arctic, Europe and Central America.

In 2010, to be closer to their daughter Loran and her children, Claire and Ethan, they moved to a continuing care community on the banks of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. Again, they became involved in the local community and found great pleasure in the urban wildlife the Willamette River offered.

If you wish to make a gift in memory of Penny and Frank make a donation to either the Katmai Conservancy or Planned Parenthood. They are remembered and loved for their passion for each other and for the wildness of the world. Penny and Frank made lasting friendships wherever they lived and worked.