Tom Leo Starsick, 76 of Rachel, West Virginia passed away Friday, August 3, 2012 at Ruby Memorial Hospital.  On September 22, 1935 Tommy Leo Starsick was the last child born to Jack and Secily Zerosky Starsick.  He came into this world on Rachel, West Virginia's coal camp at house #38.  When he was four years old his parents moved to a house situated between the coal mines and the slate dump.  Tom lived the rest of his life in that same house.  His parents died when he was just a teenager and yet Tom continued his education graduating from Farmington High School in 1954.
 
Although all of his brothers worked in the coal mines, he chose to become a mechanic.  After going to school in Illinois he was employed with the Buick garage in Fairmont for forty years.  He enjoyed music, traveling, hiking, camping and astronomy. His interest in photography captured images of an era gone by.  A visual history is framed on the walls of Rachel's community building thanks to Tom's generosity.

Tom never married or had a family of his own but was a great uncle to his many nieces and nephews.  In the 1960's he filled a complete row of the Mannington Theater with his nieces and nephews to watch the movie "The Ten Commandments".

Along with his parents, Tom was preceded in death by brothers Stanley, Jack, Sam and Joe; and sisters, Mary Leezer, Katy Starsick, Cecelia Ashcraft and Maggie Martin. 
 
Tom is survived by his brother John and wife Shirley Starsick, brother-in-law Calvin Martin and wife Catherine and sister-in-law Cora Starsick.  He attended Downs Methodist Church.

Friends may call at the Masters Funeral Home, 209 Main Street, Mannington, WV on Monday, August 6, 2012 from 2-8 P.M.  Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at 11:00 A.M. in the funeral home with Reverend Randy Vincent officiating.  Burial will follow at Viewpoint Cemetery at Rachel. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mastersfuneralhomewv.com.