Bill Stark's Obituary
Bill Murray Stark, age 94, departed this life September 23, 2025 after a recent illness. The youngest child of William B Stark and Corrie Yancey Stark, he was born on February 1, 1931 in the family home in rural Tippah County, Mississippi.
After the start of World War II, Bill’s siblings, Elizabeth Stark Crawford, Albert Vance Stark and Charles William Stark left to contribute to the war effort and his parents sold the farm and moved to Ripley, Mississippi. Bill graduated from high school there and followed his siblings to Memphis. Here he would spend all of his professional life. A Korean War veteran, Sgt. Stark, USAF, served his country in wartime as had his brothers, father and great grandfather. After his discharge, he returned to work and study in Memphis.
In 1955, he met and married his wife of 70 years. After graduating from Christian Brothers College with a degree in Electrical Engineering, they moved to Huntsville, Alabama where he worked at Redstone Arsenal as part of the early space program. They returned to Memphis, where he began the work he loved, at Tennessee Valley Electrical Supply Company. He thoroughly cherished the long-lasting business relationships and friendships that were associated with his work. He also loved to play golf and work on his many do it your self-projects. He retired after working at Tennessee Valley for 37 years. He was a founding member of Kirby Woods Baptist Church.
Following his retirement, they moved to Brownsville, Tennessee where he painstakingly restored a historic home. He lived there until the time of his death. He was a prolific storyteller and charmed all who were blessed to cross his path with his humor.
He is survived by his wife, Helen Park Stark, son Gregory J Stark, MD, (Anna Stark) daughter Periann Stark Houghton, and grandson, Ross Houghton.
Friends and family are invited to attend a visitation on Saturday September 27, 2025 from 2-3 with a service at 3:00 at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5668 Poplar Avenue Memphis, Tennessee.
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