Florence Amelia Wilshire Starkebaum, 94, retired teacher and community volunteer, died peacefully at her home in Kennewick on January 2. She was kind and generous and a friend to everyone she knew. Florence was born to Edith and James Wilshire in Rifle, Colorado on May 19, 1914. Her older brother, Alfred, died in 1963. Accompanied by her mother, Florence attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, majoring in home economics and graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1936. She met Norman "Starkie" Starkebaum while in college. They were married in Haxtun, Colorado, December 24, 1940. Prior to her marriage, Florence was hired by the Kerr Fruit Jar Company to travel all over Colorado, demonstrating the use of a pressure cooker for canning, an adventure she enjoyed recounting all her life. She made her rounds in a 1936 Ford, her mother in the passenger seat, and a huge glass jar jutting out the back where the trunk should have been. The car was specially outfitted with jars, lids, a gas stove and equipment for demonstrations. "The car drew as much interest as the canning demonstrations," she remembered. "In every town, men and women would gather around it to admire it and ask numerous questions." She and Norman moved to Richland in 1944, where Norman found work at Hanford as part of the Manhattan Project, and their three children were born. In 1953 Florence and Norman built a new house in Kennewick on 20 acres they had developed. Florence taught home economics at Kennewick High School with her colleague, the late Kay Birchmier, from 1957 to 1977. Florence loved teaching. After she retired, she helped establish the Food Education and Service Training FEAST program in the Tri-Cities. It continues as the Culinary Arts Program at Tri-Tech. In 1966, Florence and Norman hosted Mauro Baltazar, an exchange student from Brazil, in their home for a year. They later helped Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian families who had re-settled in the Tri-Cities. All became part of Florence's extended family. Norman died in 1988. In 1994, Florence moved to the retirement community Canyon Lakes. With her many friends, she continued making crafts for Holly Daze Bazaar for the Kennewick Methodist Church, and for Safe Harbor, an emergency nursery for babies and children with families in crisis, or suffering abuse or neglect. She kept two sewing machines going. In recognition of her volunteer work, she was named Woman of Distinction by the Tri-City Federated Women's Club in 1979, United Methodist Woman of the Year in 2000, and the "Old Woman in the Shoe" by Safe Harbor Crisis Nursery in 2007. She received an American Red Cross Real Heroes award in 2008 for sewing 300 Christmas stockings for children in foster care. She is survived by her children Jean and Peter Colley and Gordon and Mary Starkebaum, Seattle; and Warren and Karen Young Starkebaum, Plymouth MN; her grandchildren Elaine, Paul, David, Martin, Peter, and Doug; her two "grand dogs;" and her friends around the world. To all who knew Florence, thank you for your love and support. A memorial service will be held at the Kennewick First United Methodist Church at 1 p.m., Saturday, February 21. Donations in her memory may be made to Safe Harbor Crisis Nursery, 1111 Grant Place, Kennewick, WA 99336 or to United Methodist Women, 2 S. Dayton St., Kennewick, WA 99336. ************************************************* Kennewick's Florence Starkebaum an unassuming heroine Florence Starkebaum had a powerful, though gentle, influence on the Tri-Cities. She was much honored for her many good works during her life, but her kindnesses far outnumbered the honors she received for them. She died Jan. 2 at her home in Kennewick at the age of 94. Her health had not been good lately, and her family, friends and fellow members of Kennewick First United Methodist Church had been praying for her. Former students remember her as a home economics teacher at Kennewick High School from 1957-77. She played a key role in establishing the multidisciplinary restaurant training program for high school students that would develop into the Culinary Arts Program that continues today at the Tri-Tech High School. She was an early supporter and eager advocate for the Safe Harbor Crisis Nursery. In fact, she was the first recipient of the Old Woman in the Shoe Award, which now is given annually for outstanding volunteer service to Safe Harbor. She was a regular contributor of craft projects to the nursery and sold other handiwork to provide cash donations. Her family suggests contributions in her name be made to Safe Harbor Crisis Nursery or United Methodist Women, to help to carry on her work. Starkebaum was Kennewick Woman of the Year Woman of Distinction in 1979. Her Methodist Church named her Woman of the Year in 2000, and she received an American Red Cross Real Heroes award in 2008. Her husband Norman died in 1988. They were married in Haxtun, Colo., on Dec. 24, 1940. This past Christmas Eve would have been their 68th wedding anniversary. A memorial service will be held at Kennewick United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. There is every reason to expect the church will be crowded. ****************************************************** Longtime Tri-City teacher dies at 94 By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer A longtime teacher and community volunteer who was known for her dedicated service to children died at home last week at age 94. Florence Starkebaum taught home economics in Kennewick for 20 years, helped start what's now a regional culinary arts training program and in retirement used her skills to make crib sheets, Christmas stockings and toys for hurting kids in the Tri-Cities. "She tried to make the community a better place, especially for children," said her daughter-in-law, Dr. Mary Starkebaum of Seattle. The mother of three was born to a farm family in Rifle, Colo., and studied home economics at Colorado State University, according to the family. She met her husband of nearly 50 years, Norman "Starkie" Starkebaum, while she was in college. Before they were married, she traveled through Colorado in a 1936 Ford for Kerr Fruit Jar Company. Her job was to demonstrate how to use a pressure cooker for canning. But the Ford, which had a plate glass jar in place of the trunk, often drew as many people as the demonstrations, the information said. Florence and Norman married on Christmas Eve 1940 and moved to Richland four years later. Norman worked at Hanford, and Florence started teaching home economics at Kennewick High in 1957, her family said. She stayed there 20 years and helped start a restaurant training program that evolved into the Culinary Arts program at Tri-Tech Skills Center in Kennewick. Norman passed way in 1988. Florence was known as a tireless volunteer and won several awards for her service. But that's not why she worked so hard to help others, Mary Starkebaum said. In her life, "she really was focused on what was good and true and beautiful, and also what was helpful," Mary Starkebaum said. She never had a bad word to say about anyone and maintained many longtime friendships in the community, she said. Florence sewed Mary's wedding dress and made many other outfits for her over the years. Mary is married to Florence and Norman's son, Dr. Gordon Starkebaum. Florence and Norman also have a daughter, Jean Colley of Seattle, and another son, Warren Starkebaum of Minnesota. Florence was active well into retirement, Mary Starkebaum said. She learned to use a computer and took Spanish lessons. She helped refugees resettle in the Tri-Cities and spent countless hours sewing items for groups such as Safe Harbor Crisis Nursery. She provided "such a wonderful example of how one can live in a positive fashion," Mary Starkebaum said. A memorial service will be in February in Kennewick.