Lelia “Lee” Myra Ratzesberger Stark of Roanoke, Va., passed away Monday,
Jan. 2, 2023. Lee was born in Danville, Ill., on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 1929, a
daughter of Louis Ratzesberger Jr. and Marian L. Vandervort Ratzesberger.
She attended local schools in Hoopeston, Ill., and graduated from the
University of Illinois. In 1951, Lee married Daniel E. Stark of Champaign, Ill.,
and they began their life together in Arizona where their triplet children were
born. Lee and Dan lived in Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania and moved to
Harrisonburg, Va., in 1969. Lee taught first grade in Shenandoah County
Schools.
Lee’s husband, Dan, and her son, Louis Paul Stark, pre-deceased her. She is
survived by two of her children, Douglas T. Stark (Nancy) of Roanoke, Va., and
Diane Lynn Ayres (John) of Chester, Va.; a brother, Louis Todd Ratzesberger in
California and a sister, Marise Rivers in Oregon. She is also survived by seven
grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Lee is fondly remembered for her cheerfulness and generosity.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Roanoke, Va.
at 12:00 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. Interment will be held in the Young
America Cemetery in Hume, Ill.
Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.