James William Stark Jr.

Jim Stark, Jr. passed away November 23, 2012 in Marshall, Virginia. He was born in Torrance on July 6, 1966 and grew up in Glendale. He graduated from Crescenta Valley High school in 1984. He received his bachelor’s degree from UC Riverside in Sociology and English in 1990. He worked as contractor for Northrop Grumman Martin for 16 years in positions ranging from technical writer, operations coordinator, database developer, systems administrator, and senior system analyst. Companies he worked for included the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Magellan Space Flight Project), NASA Ames Research Center, and the Defense Intelligence Agency and Department of Homeland Security in Washington DC.

Jim lived in Virginia since 1995. He considered himself a “natural Virginian” and engaged in the pursuits of a gentleman farmer. He was an excellent cook, collected craftsman style furniture and pottery, made his own ale, and hiked and biked in the green wilderness of Virginia whenever he could. Jim also enjoyed his Scottish heritage and was particularly fond of his Cornish Rex cat.

Jim is survived by his parents, Jim and Fran Stark, formerly of Glendale, now residing in Oceanside California. In addition to his parents, Jim leaves his sisters Sandra Shields and Tracy Gambino, brother-in-law, John Shields and nephews, Cody and Bryce Glen and niece Maia Shields. He also leaves his brother Seth Stark of Bremerton, WA.

There will be a dedication of a beautiful meditative garden in Jim’s honor on the grounds of the Masonic Children’s Home in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania on June 20, 2013. Since 1913, this home has provided thousands of children a chance at a productive life in a loving and caring environment. Jim’s family remembers him with love and will miss him always.