Ex-Henderson fire chief Starr dies
A longtime Henderson fire chief has died.
Dale Starr, 85, died on Oct. 22. He was Henderson’s fire chief from 1978 to 1990, according to his wife, Lynn Starr. The couple met after Lynn began working for the Fire Department in the early 1980s. They married shortly after his retirement in 1991.
Lynn Starr, who was born and raised in Henderson, said the couple almost never had the chance to marry. The 1998 industrial disaster at the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada nearly took their lives.
“PEPCON blew up, and we nearly blew up with it,” she said.
Lynn Starr said her husband started at the Henderson Fire Department in 1957 and was promoted to assistant chief in 1962.
He preached fire prevention, not just firefighting, and was adamant that Henderson retain its ambulance service.
“If it weren’t for Dale, we wouldn’t have ambulance services under the Fire Department,” she said.
Lynn Starr said her husband loved fishing, restoring old cars and his family. He was a staunch supporter of the National Rifle Association.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be Monday at Palm Mortuary at 800 S. Boulder Highway in Henderson. He will be buried at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City.
Contact Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com. Find him on Twitter: @blasky.
