Dorothy Jane Starbuck Block

Dorothy Jane Starbuck Block, 94, was born in Lincoln, Kansas on November 7, 1920 to Marie (Colden) and Harold Robert Starbuck. Her grandparents were Lorena and Clinton Colden, and Rebecca and Edward Macey Starbuck. She died on February 12, 2015 at Via Christi Village Manhattan. While a senior in high school, Dorothy was pianist for many musical activities, President of the Girl Reserves with a membership of 125 girls, editor of the school paper 'The Broadcaster' and pianist for Sunday morning church at the Lincoln First Methodist church. She began teaching piano at the age of 16 and continued doing that for over 50 years. She gave lessons to dozens of children. She was a 70-year member of the Order of Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron, Organist, and a number of other offices. She served as President of the Lincoln County Hospital Auxiliary and was a member of Chapter DT of the PEO sisterhood. Dorothy was the oldest of four children born to her parents. She graduated from high school in 1938 as Salutatorian of her class. She completed Normal Training in 1940, and taught two years at Spring Valley School in Lincoln County. During World War II when her husband Richard served in the U.S. Army she spent time in both Lincoln County, where Richard's family resided, and Leavenworth, Kansas. While in Leavenworth she was pianist for a small orchestra that played at the USOs in the city and Fort Leavenworth. She also played pipe organ at the First Methodist in Leavenworth. After World War II ended, Dorothy and Richard resided in Vesper, Kansas. She was very active in the Vesper United Presbyterian Church and served as pianist there for over 55 years. She was also a Sunday school teacher, choir director, and member of United Presbyterian Women. Dorothy moved to Manhattan in 2003. She loved her family, home, and church family deeply. Music was also one of the loves of her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Richard, and her brother, Robert Paul Starbuck. She is survived by her son, Richard Royce Block of Ellsworth, and a daughter, Rebecca (David) Block Claus of Manhattan, a sister, Kathleen Starbuck Munson of Hopewell, Virginia, a brother, Kenneth Starbuck of Herrin, Illinois, two grandsons, Matthew and Alex Block, a granddaughter, Lisa Claus (John Dykstra), of West Chester, Pennsylvania, one great-grandaughter, and numerous nieces and nephews. The funeral service for Dorothy will be on Friday, Feb. 20, 2015 at 10:00am at the funeral home, burial will follow at 1:00pm at the Vesper Cemetery in Vesper, Kansas. The casket will be closed but friends are invited to sign the book at funeral home from Tuesday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.