Margaret Icard Starnes,

Margaret Icard Starnes, age 84, of Granite Falls, passed away on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at Caldwell Hospice in Hudson. She was born on February 13, 1930 in Alexander County to the late Ernest Icard and Gladys Fox Icard. Margaret was a homemaker, helping to operate the family-owned farm with her husband, where they raised tobacco, beef cattle, and small grain crops. She was a member of Dudley Shoals Baptist Church, where she taught children's Sunday School, and was a member of the choir. Margaret was also a member of the ladie's circle. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by one brother: Lloyd Icard; and one sister: Ruth Icard Snyder. Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Alden E. Starnes of the home who served as a Caldwell County Commissioner for 34 years; an only son: Vaughn Starnes, who was the light of her life and serves as Chief of Surgery at the University of Southern California, and his wife, Julie, of Pasadena, CA; grandchildren: Kristen Ott and husband, Jeff, of Houston, TX, Ashley Pharris, and husband, Jon, of Newport, CA, Margaret Roubard and husband, Julien, of Los Angeles, CA, and Andrew Starnes of Irvine, CA; 10 great grandchildren; sister: Alice Sanniota; brothers: Frank Icard and Carrol Icard; special friends: Keith and Shirley Sims of Granite Falls; and a number of nieces and nephews.



Visitation will be held Thursday, August 21, 2014 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Dudley Shoals Baptist Church. The funeral service will be Friday, August 22, 2014 at 3:00 pm at Dudley Shoals Baptist Church with Pastor Gordon West and Pastor Don Ingle officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers include Andrew Starnes, Mike Sims, Joe Sims, Phil Icard, Patrick Starnes, and Michael Icard. Memorials may be made to Dudley Shoals Baptist Church: 1882 Dudley Shoals Rd; Granite Falls, NC 28630.