Dr. Sewell K. Starcke

Dr. Sewell K. Starcke, 95, of 1306 Gamma, Carlsbad, NM, passed away July 9, 2013, at his home after a long illness. Following cremation a private family interment will take place at the Columbary of the First Presbyterian Church in Carlsbad. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Sewell K. Starcke was born March 17, 1918, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Andrew and Eleanor Starcke. After completing high school and college in Kansas City, Sewell graduated in 1942 from Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He completed his internship at Huron Road Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, and married Victoria in 1943 in Philadelphia. For the next two years he served in the US Navy during World War II, and returned to complete his residency in OB/GYN at Huron Road Hospital. After practicing OB/GYN in Cleveland, Ohio, for seven years, Sewell and Victoria moved in 1955 to Carlsbad, where he was the city's first board-certified OB/GYN specialist and practiced for over 30 years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and a member and past president of the Carlsbad Kiwanis Club. Dr. Starcke was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Walter and Oliver and sister, Eleanor; and daughter, Pamela Marie. Dr. Starcke is survived by his wife, Victoria, of Carlsbad; son Walter, of Carlsbad; son Donald and wife, Julia, of Maplewood, NJ; and grandson, Matthew Starcke, and wife, Desiree, of Durham, NC; and several nieces and nephews. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.