Oran Odell Starnes Sr., 90, of Hickory, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, at Catawba Valley Medical Center. Oran was born May 24, 1923, in Alexander County, to the late Gus Hilliard Starnes and the late Bertha Bolick Starnes. He was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Lt. Robert Carson Jr.; brothers, Ernest and Claude; and sisters, Iretha Bolick and Lucy Hefner. Oran was a meter technician by trade and retired from Duke Power after 32 years of service. A devoted and active member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Oran was also a lifelong role model for volunteer service. His volunteering began at the age of 18 when he enlisted for military service and served for four years in the 49th Air Service Squadron of the Army Air Force. Most of his military duty was in the South Pacific. Later on, when the Viewmont area of Hickory needed fire protection, he was one of a group who organized the local volunteer fire department. He served faithfully for 20 years. After he became a layryngectomee in 1985, he became very involved in helping others who suffered the same voice condition by joining the New Voice Club, where he served as president for many years. He visited layrngectomees and maintained a loan closet of speech devices. Because he successfully mastered esophageal speech, he was frequently called upon to visit schools and clubs to demonstrate this technique and to talk to children about the dangers of smoking. Up until the age of 86, Oran also regularly volunteered at the Cancer Resource Center of CVMC, Hickory Soup Kitchen, Catawba County Meals on Wheels and Red Cross Blood Mobiles. Oran is survived by his wife of 69 years, Colleen Seabock Starnes and his children, Lynnette Starnes Carson, of Hickory, Oran Odell Starnes Jr. and wife, Cindy, of Hickory and Kathryn Starnes Duarte and husband, Derison, of Chapel Hill. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren include Robert Lee Carson III and partner, Jose Caraballo, of Washington, D.C., Sarah Carson Phelps and husband, David and their daughters, Avery and Allison, of Greenville, S.C., Susannah Carson Galloway and husband, Michael and their daughter, Berit, of Taylors, S.C., Tyler Odell Starnes, of Hickory, Joshua James Starnes, of Richmond, Va., Abigail Renee Starnes, of Hickory, Alyssa Ruth Starnes, of Greenville, N.C. and Marshall Ray Duarte, of Chapel Hill. Also surviving are his sister, Beulah Bowman, of Bethlehem; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special family friend, Steve Brittain. A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Hickory, officiated by Pastor David R. Keck and Vicar Rebecca Lord. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Military honors were conducted by the American Legion Post 48. Hickory Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.