Norwood-norfolk High School Alumni
Norwood, New York (NY)
In Memory of
Malcolm Gordon Starks
1930-2025
Born Feb 09, 1930, Malcolm Gordon Starks attended Norwood-norfolk High School in Norwood, NY.
(unknown)
Feb 09, 1930 - Dec 30, 2025
Feb 09, 1930 - Dec 30, 2025
per Obit
RAYMONDVILLE- Malcolm Gordon Starks, 95, of Raymondville passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. He was born on February 9, 1930, in Potsdam, NY, to Lodema Hatley Starks and William Gordon Starks.
He was a lifelong resident of Norfolk, living the majority of his adult years in Raymondville. He graduated from Norfolk High School and Houghton College in western New York, studying psychology and mathematics education. He attended McGill University (Montreal), studying for his Master’s in Psychology.
One summer during his college years, Malcolm worked on the Alaskan Railroad. He and a friend hitched a ride to Chicago, where they found a car dealer who needed someone to take a vehicle to the west coast. From there, they found another ride to Alaska. He had many stories of his adventures from that summer. He also worked for Lavigne Brothers’ garage as a young man.
After college graduation, Malcolm married Mary Bentley. He spent several years working for Social Services as a Social Worker in St. Lawrence County. Later, he became a Rehabilitation Counselor at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center in Ogdensburg (NY), where he helped patients develop social and behavioral skills with the goal of helping patients return to community living. Many of his days were filled with group activities, crafting and sheltered workshops, and, for a few years, managing the greenhouse where patients were guided to care for the plants. His home came to have many sprouts of plants that he was propagating.
Malcolm’s years of professional service, first to the economically challenged and then to the mentally challenged, refined his heart to care for the needs of people who might otherwise have been overlooked. He respectfully guided and nurtured people toward positive and productive paths. When we (his children) were challenging at home, he would quietly say, “I deal with difficult people all day!” The implication was that we could easily choose not to be difficult, and he would appreciate it if we stepped up our game!
Malcolm was known for his extensive service roles in the community.
Dad would be embarrassed to state all the services he provided throughout his lifetime. He never did anything to gain the accolades we think he deserved. Instead, his children wished to honor his service and recognize how he modeled that by extending it far into our adult lives.
At the local level, he enjoyed serving on the board of Norfolk’s Hepburn Library, including serving as the Chairman. He used his wisdom in decision-making as well as his craftsmanship, as he led renovation projects. He was most proud of the way he helped the library become more accessible and helped facilitate the installation of an elevator. Malcolm also spent many years on the Norwood-Norfolk School Board, several of those years serving as its President. Further, he was asked to run, and as a result was elected, as the Town Supervisor of Norfolk, a role he held for several years. Regionally, he was a President of the North Country Library Association (Watertown, NY) and President of the St. Lawrence County chapter of the NYS Civil Service Employee Union.
Malcolm was a strong advocate for higher education and was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees of two institutions, at his alma mater, Houghton University (NY), and Kingswood University (NB, Canada). Closer to home, he encouraged his children and grandchildren in their academic pursuits.
Malcolm’s most cherished acts of service were with his local church, Norfolk Wesleyan Church. He was a member there for more than 85 years and served as Treasurer and member of the Local Board of Administration for over 50 years. He served in a multitude of other ways, ranging from building wood fires, to hanging precariously out of the bell tower to paint the steeple and roof, to preaching in the absence of a pastor, to breaking up the stone ledge in the basement to make room for classrooms in which he taught for many years. He served the Wesleyan Church denomination on the District Board of Administration and was elected as a delegate to the international General Conference multiple times.
Above all else, Malcolm’s greatest love was for Jesus Christ and his Church. He carried a great burden for people to know the Lord and to love, serve, and bring others to the understanding of personal salvation and a personal relationship with our Creator, God’s gift to everyone who believes.
Malcolm was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary. He is survived by his children: Richard (Janet) Starks, Norton, NB; Melanie (Tom) Starks Collins of Brooksville, FL; Melissa Starks of Raymondville; and Monica (Matthew) Atha, of New Bern, NC. Grandchildren are: Sarah Starks, Orlando, FL; Rachel (Adriano) Starks Chaves, Chelmsford, MA; Alexis Kierstead, Lexington, KY; Robert (Destiny) Kierstead, Wilmore, KY; Charlie Kierstead, Lexington, KY; MariBeth Kierstead, Wilmore, KY; Zeke (Elise) Atha, Paris, KY; and Zack Atha, New Bern, NC. Great grandchildren, Avery Kierstead and Adam Chaves, will be joined by two more in May 2026: Thomas Starks Chaves and Baby Boy Atha. Papa would have loved to meet these two boys! He is also survived by his sister, Lois Ann Wolstenholme of Norwood, and many much-loved nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Service will be held at the Norfolk Wesleyan Church on Saturday, January 24, at 1:00 PM. Family members will greet guests from 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM.
RAYMONDVILLE- Malcolm Gordon Starks, 95, of Raymondville passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. He was born on February 9, 1930, in Potsdam, NY, to Lodema Hatley Starks and William Gordon Starks.
He was a lifelong resident of Norfolk, living the majority of his adult years in Raymondville. He graduated from Norfolk High School and Houghton College in western New York, studying psychology and mathematics education. He attended McGill University (Montreal), studying for his Master’s in Psychology.
One summer during his college years, Malcolm worked on the Alaskan Railroad. He and a friend hitched a ride to Chicago, where they found a car dealer who needed someone to take a vehicle to the west coast. From there, they found another ride to Alaska. He had many stories of his adventures from that summer. He also worked for Lavigne Brothers’ garage as a young man.
After college graduation, Malcolm married Mary Bentley. He spent several years working for Social Services as a Social Worker in St. Lawrence County. Later, he became a Rehabilitation Counselor at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center in Ogdensburg (NY), where he helped patients develop social and behavioral skills with the goal of helping patients return to community living. Many of his days were filled with group activities, crafting and sheltered workshops, and, for a few years, managing the greenhouse where patients were guided to care for the plants. His home came to have many sprouts of plants that he was propagating.
Malcolm’s years of professional service, first to the economically challenged and then to the mentally challenged, refined his heart to care for the needs of people who might otherwise have been overlooked. He respectfully guided and nurtured people toward positive and productive paths. When we (his children) were challenging at home, he would quietly say, “I deal with difficult people all day!” The implication was that we could easily choose not to be difficult, and he would appreciate it if we stepped up our game!
Malcolm was known for his extensive service roles in the community.
Dad would be embarrassed to state all the services he provided throughout his lifetime. He never did anything to gain the accolades we think he deserved. Instead, his children wished to honor his service and recognize how he modeled that by extending it far into our adult lives.
At the local level, he enjoyed serving on the board of Norfolk’s Hepburn Library, including serving as the Chairman. He used his wisdom in decision-making as well as his craftsmanship, as he led renovation projects. He was most proud of the way he helped the library become more accessible and helped facilitate the installation of an elevator. Malcolm also spent many years on the Norwood-Norfolk School Board, several of those years serving as its President. Further, he was asked to run, and as a result was elected, as the Town Supervisor of Norfolk, a role he held for several years. Regionally, he was a President of the North Country Library Association (Watertown, NY) and President of the St. Lawrence County chapter of the NYS Civil Service Employee Union.
Malcolm was a strong advocate for higher education and was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees of two institutions, at his alma mater, Houghton University (NY), and Kingswood University (NB, Canada). Closer to home, he encouraged his children and grandchildren in their academic pursuits.
Malcolm’s most cherished acts of service were with his local church, Norfolk Wesleyan Church. He was a member there for more than 85 years and served as Treasurer and member of the Local Board of Administration for over 50 years. He served in a multitude of other ways, ranging from building wood fires, to hanging precariously out of the bell tower to paint the steeple and roof, to preaching in the absence of a pastor, to breaking up the stone ledge in the basement to make room for classrooms in which he taught for many years. He served the Wesleyan Church denomination on the District Board of Administration and was elected as a delegate to the international General Conference multiple times.
Above all else, Malcolm’s greatest love was for Jesus Christ and his Church. He carried a great burden for people to know the Lord and to love, serve, and bring others to the understanding of personal salvation and a personal relationship with our Creator, God’s gift to everyone who believes.
Malcolm was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary. He is survived by his children: Richard (Janet) Starks, Norton, NB; Melanie (Tom) Starks Collins of Brooksville, FL; Melissa Starks of Raymondville; and Monica (Matthew) Atha, of New Bern, NC. Grandchildren are: Sarah Starks, Orlando, FL; Rachel (Adriano) Starks Chaves, Chelmsford, MA; Alexis Kierstead, Lexington, KY; Robert (Destiny) Kierstead, Wilmore, KY; Charlie Kierstead, Lexington, KY; MariBeth Kierstead, Wilmore, KY; Zeke (Elise) Atha, Paris, KY; and Zack Atha, New Bern, NC. Great grandchildren, Avery Kierstead and Adam Chaves, will be joined by two more in May 2026: Thomas Starks Chaves and Baby Boy Atha. Papa would have loved to meet these two boys! He is also survived by his sister, Lois Ann Wolstenholme of Norwood, and many much-loved nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Service will be held at the Norfolk Wesleyan Church on Saturday, January 24, at 1:00 PM. Family members will greet guests from 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM.