Robert "Bob" Clinton Starbuck, Jr.

Robert Clinton (“Bob”) Starbuck, Jr., 74, passed away peacefully on the evening of September 17, 2025 from complications of Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s-related dementia.

Bob was born in Kansas City, Missouri on August 23, 1951 and raised by his mother Anna Beckman Starbuck and grandmother Hattie Beckman, along with the generosity of their east side neighbors. Bob benefitted greatly from the significant involvement of his paternal grandparents Violet and Kenneth Starbuck. His beloved grandfather lived to age 91 and had enormous influence on Bob his entire life. Bob and his grandfather both had charming, vibrant personalities and truly cared for every person they ever met.

At the age of 13 Bob worked for Coleman’s Market delivering groceries to neighbors. During high school he operated the movie projector at Midland Theater. Bob graduated from Kansas City’s East High School in 1969, serving as Senior Class President. Many of his east side classmates became life-long friends.

Bob proudly served in the U.S. Navy 1970-1976 as an electronics technician aboard the oil tanker U.S.S. Truckee, spending most of his time in the Mediterranean Sea refueling other Navy ships during the Vietnam War. With plenty of shore leave and dry dock repair delays Bob developed a love of travel as he was fortunate to spend much leisure time in Italy, Spain and Greece. After military service Bob completed his Bachelor’s degree at Rockhurst College night classes while working full-time. Bob spent 30 years in management at Honeywell (formerly Bendix), making many lifelong friends and golf buddies. Bob retired in late 2006 to enjoy more time with his family, golf and travel.

When Bob and Sandy met through mutual friends on May 1, 1981 they each had a daughter from an earlier marriage, worked full time and attended night school at Rockhurst College. With plenty of humor and teamwork they married in late 1981 and merged their busy families, enjoying summers of southern Missouri float trips and winters of Colorado skiing with the Breeze and Norris families. Bob was always smiling, often singing. His daughters still delight in remembering their dad dancing on top of the coffee table! Bob also loved reading, crossword puzzles, golf, snow skiing, more golf, baseball, old movies, and music – especially Bob James, Santana and the Eagles. He was far too competitive when playing Monopoly so his daughters insisted on family card playing instead.

Bob and Sandy shared a love of travel. They skied 51 different ski mountains together from Alaska to New Zealand, many as members of the Kansas City Ski Club. However, their favorite ski trips were the ten family ski trips they were able to enjoy with their four grandchildren, skiing/snowboarding all day and playing Five Crowns cards until midnight. Other favorite travel included Bora Bora, scuba diving on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and traveling into the Australian Outback. They traveled to all but 13 states in the U.S. Bob golfed with the same group of friends for more than four decades and also enjoyed summer golfing with his grandsons. As Parkinson’s began to limit Bob’s sport participation, Bob and Sandy spent much of K.C. winters on a Grand Cayman beach. In 2019 they traveled through amazing Iceland with 18 ski club friends. As Bob’s health declined to where further travel was not feasible, they continued to enjoy their four decades of fun travel memories as well as the 26 active years they lived in Lake Winnebago, Missouri.

In June, 2024 they wisely downsized and moved to Overland Park, Kansas to be close to family members who were assisting Sandy with Bob’s care. The closer proximity made it so much easier for Linda, Christian, Brendon and Nick to increase their caretaking which allowed Bob to remain at home with Sandy until May of this year.

Bob’s family extends their sincere appreciation to all who called and visited Bob over the past few years. Bob always looked forward to frequent visits by Anne and Lance Blue and laugh fests with Reece Tinsley. Your friendship truly added joy to Bob’s life as his health faltered. Sandy greatly appreciates the never-ending support she received from many long-time friends and her new Overland Park neighbors, as well as Ascend Hospice for their specialized care the final few weeks of Bob’s life. A special thanks to the compassionate staff and management at The Heritage of Overland Park for Alzheimer’s and Memory Care at 10101 West 127th Street, where Bob resided for the past four months. It was comforting how warmly Bob and Sandy were welcomed into the #3 unit family. Great friendships were formed immediately. Bob was especially close to his CNAs Shillan and Fortunatus. For that our family will be forever grateful.

Bob is survived by his best friend and devoted wife of nearly 44 years, Sandra L. Starbuck of the Overland Park home, who will continue to care for Bob’s 45-year-old Ming tree which has survived 3 moves including one during a snowstorm. Bob also leaves two strong and independent daughters Shauna K. (Kirby) Struttmann of Pleasant Hill, Missouri and Linda J. Starbuck of Olathe, Kansas. Bob was very proud of his four grandchildren and encourages them to continue to create joy every single day. They are: Christian T. Starbuck of Olathe, Kansas, Cheyenne K. (Brayden) Struttmann-Smith of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, Brendon T. Starbuck of Olathe, Kansas, and Nicholas P. (Lillian) Garvey of Gardner, Kansas. He also leaves three young great-grandchildren: Porter and Bellamy Struttmann-Smith of Pleasant Hill, Missouri and Cameron Garvey of Gardner, Kansas. Bob is also survived by a brother in Tennessee, Rev. Gary (Peggy) Starbuck, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cremation by Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home at 14275 Black Bob Road in Olathe, Kansas, where an informal visitation will be held 3:00 – 5:00 pm on Saturday, October 4. In lieu of flowers please consider a call or visit to an ailing friend, or a contribution to a local food pantry to help offset recent federal funding cuts.