Alida Marie Starkweather

Alida Marie Starkweather, age 93, of Charlotte peacefully slipped away in the early morning hours of Thursday, March 28, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was born April 6, 1930, in Benton Township, the daughter of Adiel and Marie (DeSander) VanDorpe. Alida graduated from Charlotte High School with the class of 1948. Not long after graduation she married Bob E. Starkweather on September 3, 1949. Together they spent 61 wonderful years together until Bob passed away in 2010. Alida and Bob spent 23 years in Charlotte before they decided to move to Cheyenne, Wyoming. She and Bob loved their time spent in Wyoming and the western way of life. In 1989 they returned to Charlotte and settled in at their new home on Battle Creek Road. Alida loved feeding birds and was especially fond of cardinals. She enjoyed playing cards with her friends at the Eaton Area Senior Center, watching MSU sports, rodeos, traveling to the casino, and the fellowship and fun of her fellow Red Hat Ladies.

Alida is survived by her children: Bob Jr. (Sally) Starkweather, Sue Ann (Ron) Olmstead, Wendy Sue (Wayne) Carpenter; 5 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Corky VanDorpe; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Bob; siblings, Frand (Betty) VanDorpe, Julius VanDorpe, Jerry VanDorpe, Raymond (Margaret) VanDorpe, Ruby (Gasper) DeBryne, and Rosemary (Louis) Howe.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 1, 2024, at 11 A.M. at the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home with Laura Cooper officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Maple Hill Cemetery.

Those desiring may make contributions in Alida’s memory to the Eaton Area Senior Center 804 S. Cochran Ave., Charlotte, MI 48813 or Eaton Community Care 2675 S. Cochran Road, Charlotte, MI 48813.