Rev. Travis Starnes

Rev. Travis F. Starnes, 87, of Gatesville went to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 30, 2017. Funeral Services will be at 2:00 pm, Thursday, January 4, 2018 at Scott’s Funeral Home with burial following at Paint Creek Cemetery in Robert Lee, Texas on Friday at 1:00 pm. His grandson Rev. Greg Boone will be officiating, along with Rev. Jimmy Skiles, Rev. Sammy Draper, Dr. James Hughes and Rev. Mark Hughes. Visitation will be from 6-8 pm on Wednesday at the funeral home. Rev. Travis Starnes was born July 2, 1930 in Jolly, TX. He was the son of the late Zack Starnes and Jessie Holt. He married his sweetheart, Ina Mae Dodson on May 19, 1950 in Wichita Falls, TX. They celebrated 64 wonderful years together before her passing in 2014. Rev. Starnes was licensed with the United Pentecostal Church International in 1959 and was ordained on May 7, 1965. His first pastorate was in Robert Lee, TX and later in Merkel, Sweetwater, Littlefield, and finally Amarillo, where he served as pastor for 23 years. In 2000, after suffering a stroke, he resigned his church in Amarillo, TX and moved to Gatesville, TX in 2001. While active in the ministry, he served in the Texico District as Sectional Youth Leader, Sectional Secretary and Sectional Presbyter. In 2009 he received a Certificate of Award, from the UPCI, honoring his fifty years of service in the ministry. He also held many other jobs during his lifetime, including becoming a barber. After moving to Gatesville he served a short time as a volunteer at Coryell Museum and Historical Center. He was a compassionate, loving, and godly man. He loved his family and touched many lives with his love and kindness. He loved animals and would often bring one home that had been injured and nurse it back to health. Some of his favorite times were spending time with family and friends, playing his guitar, and singing gospel music. He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, Ina Starnes in 2014; brother, Doss Starnes; sisters, Pauline Starnes, Irene Morrison, Imogene Brooks, and grandsons, Kerry, Terry, Gerry Boone. Travis is survived by son, Ronald Starnes and wife, Linda of Gatesville, TX; daughter, Gail Boone and husband, Carlton of Gatesville, TX; three grandchildren, Rhonda Bruner and husband, Dr. Wayne Bruner of College Station, TX; Rev. Greg Boone and wife, Shanna of Brownsville, TX; Rodney Starnes and wife, Shelly of Texarkana, TX; six great grandchildren, along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, fellow Ministers and dear friends. Memorials may be made to Tabernacle of Praise, P.O. Box 1002, Gatesville, TX 76528.