Patricia Eileen Starkey

Patricia Eileen (Specht) Starkey of Akron, age 79, passed away peacefully and surrounded by love on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at Heritage Hill Assisted Living and Memory Care. Patricia was born October 2, 1946 in Saginaw, the daughter of the late Franklin H. and Viola (Graf) Specht. She enjoyed growing up on Malzahn Street in Saginaw. She graduated from Arthur Hill High School with the Class of 1964 and went on to attend Northwood Institute (now Northwood University).

On April 8, 1972, she married Thomas W. Starkey, and together they made their home in Akron, where Patricia lived for the remainder of her life. She worked as a secretary at Spicer Engineering before dedicating herself to raising her family as a homemaker. Later, she served as church secretary for over a decade at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fairgrove.

Patricia’s greatest joy was her family. While she loved all of her grandchildren deeply, she shared a particularly close bond with her oldest grandson, Thomas, and treasured the time they spent together and the special memories they made as he was growing up.

She also shared an especially close relationship with her sister, Jacquie. One of her most cherished memories was a tour of Europe they were blessed to take together, shortly before Jacquie’s life was tragically cut short in an automobile accident in 1971 at the age of 19.

Her life centered around her faith, her family, and her church community. Patricia had a deep love for music, singing in the church choir and leading the children’s choir for many years. She founded and directed the children’s handbell choir, as well as directing the annual children’s Christmas program for many years. She also directed Christian musical productions at Grace, including The Music Machine and Baa Baa Bethlehem, bringing together congregation members of all ages to share the message of God’s love and faithfulness.

Patricia leaves to cherish her memory, her children, Melissa (Jonathan) Keller, Julie (Jerry) Hoefling, and Michael (Laura) Starkey; former son-in-law, Dane Couture; and her grandchildren, Thomas Couture, and Julia, Olivia, and Joshua Hargash; and her aunt, Marie Specht. In addition to her husband and parents, Patricia was preceded in death by her stepmother, Cornelia (Schrotenboer) Specht; sister, Jacqueline Marie Specht; father-in-law, John F. Starkey; mother-in-law, Marjorie (Hover) Starkey; and numerous beloved aunts and uncles.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fairgrove with Rev. Joshua Haller officiating. Burial will take place at Demorest Cemetery in Akron following the service. Patricia’s family will be present to receive friends at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider memorial contributions to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fairgrove, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.