A Wilmington Veteran’s Life of Faith and Family | Wilmington News

Wilmington News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 21, 2026 · 1m

Joe Starling, 83, passed peacefully in his sleep, leaving behind a legacy of love, service, and community. A Navy veteran who served in the Pacific during Vietnam, he later built a life as a skilled HVAC technician and longtime Southern Bell employee, earning lifelong friends along the way. Born in Wilmington, he always called it home — even after moving to Raleigh as a child. Married to Jeanine for decades, he was a devoted dad and grandpa, often seen shopping with his granddaughters or cruising town in his beloved Corvette. A faithful member of the Church of Cheerful Hope, Joe lived by…