Wayne E. Starnes

Wayne E. Starnes, age 75 of Kingsport, entered into the gates of Heaven on Saturday, January 13, 2018. Wayne was born on May 3, 1942 in Kingsport, TN to the late Wrightly Ellis Starnes and the late Ada Jessie Starnes. On December 4, 1967 Wayne married his most cherished friend and love of his life, Phyllis Kidd, and after 50 years of a beautiful life together, she survives.

After working 32 years at Eastman Chemical in the CE Division: in the acid concentration department as a chemical operator, Wayne retired in April of 1997. In 1998, Wayne started working as a school bus driver for Mike Conkin and Mike Cox. Wayne drove for 15 years for the Holston and Central areas and he enjoyed the time that he got to spend with students; he was well known for sharing his knowledge of animals to the students as they rode the bus; and he always treated each student with dignity and respect. Wayne enjoyed hunting and fishing as he was a true outdoorsman. He also enjoyed sports and he always supported his Tennessee Vols. Wayne loved his family and he was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather; and he was a wonderful provider for his family. The legacy that he left will continue on in the lives of his family for generations to come.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; an infant child; one brother, Bobby Ellis Starnes; and two sisters, Nancy Allen, and Charlotte Phillips. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Phyllis Starnes; son, Wayne Edward Starnes, II; two daughters, Tresa Allen and husband Steve, and Angela Calton and husband Scott; grandchildren, Brayden and wife Megan, Zachary and Michael Allen, Makinleigh and Braylee Calton, and Trinity Starnes; and several loving nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, located at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, (800)-873-6983, www.stjude.org.

The family would like to say a special “Thank You” to Dr. David Franzus and his staff, and also to the nursing staff of the 5th floor ICU at Holston Valley Medical Center for the care that they provided.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 18, 2018 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the chapel of East Lawn Funeral Home. Funeral services for Wayne will be held at 7:00 pm immediately following the visitation with Pastor Layton Bentley officiating. Interment services will be held on Friday, January 19, 2018 at 1:00 pm at East Lawn Memorial Park in the Garden of the Mausoleum. Serving as pallbearers will be Wayne’s family.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.eastlawnkingsport.com. East Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park has the honor of serving the family.