Robert "Steve" Starkey, 63, of Fayetteville, formerly of West Palm Beach, FL, passed away on Wednesday, January 9, 2019.

He was born on June 10, 1955, in South Charleston, to Ray and Pauline Starkey.

Steve was a 1974 graduate of Dunbar High School. He was an Eagle Scout and served in the United States Coast Guard. He pursued a culinary career starting in the Coast Guard and continuing to the Greenbrier Hotel and eventually settling in West Palm Beach, FL. He proudly served in Afghanistan for eight years for Fluor Federal Global Projects in food service management for the U.S. military, which included five military bases and thousands of soldiers. He was fortunate to cook for former President Carter on a ship sailing the Mississippi River. He was an avid Harley Davidson enthusiast and was an outdoorsman; enjoying hunting, canoeing, digging ramps with his dad, cooking and being with friends and family. He enjoyed traveling the world with his wife, Leslie, to exotic places such as Thailand, Australia, Germany, and the Bahamas.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife, Leslie Starkey ; and his brother Richard Starkey .

In addition to his parents, Steve is survived by his daughter, Kristi Allen and husband Loren, of Charleston; sons, Kevin Starkey and wife Sarah, of Smoot, Joey Starkey of Rainelle; sisters, Pam Starkey of St. Albans, and Jo Ann Hayes and husband Ralph, of Hurricane; grandsons, Jaxzen and Bodie Allen, Hunter and Tanner Starkey.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 17, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar with Rev. Greg Hudson officiating. Burial will follow in Grandview Memorial Park, Dunbar.

Friends may visit from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 16, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.