ELLINWOOD — Eugene (Gene) R. Starnes, 80, died Aug. 27, 2011, at Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood. He was born Sept. 30, 1930, at Kansas City, Kan., to Walter Johnson Starnes and Julia Catherine Bush Starnes. He married Edna Kathryn LeManske on Feb. 18, 1952, at Stony Point. A longtime resident of Ellinwood and Chase, he had been a policeman in Ellinwood and retired from Fuller Brush in Great Bend.

Mr. Starnes was a tail gunner for President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the U.S. Air Force Police in the Korean War. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Post No. 3011.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; two sons, Gregory Starnes of Natoma, and Kelly Starnes and companion Roxie Edwards of Ellinwood; two daughters, Kathy Cowley and husband Terry of Natoma, and Lori Starnes and longtime companion Gregg Kowalsky of Ellinwood; three brothers, Jim, Phillip and Russell Starnes; four sisters, JoAnn, Mary, Alice and Dorothy; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and two sisters.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Kimple Funeral Chapel in Ellinwood, with the Rev. Rick Standlee officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District Cemetery in Ellinwood. Visitation will be from 1-8 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. until service time Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Hospice Care of Kansas or to Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood.