Brian Ray Stark

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Brian Ray Stark, 79, of Centralia, Wash., passed away Jan. 12, 2020, at Providence Centralia Hospital, following a brief illness. He was born in Laredo, Texas, May 13, 1940, to Gordon Floyd and Opal (Hinson) Stark.

Brian proudly served our country as a telegraph operator with the United States Army Security Agency during the Vietnam War, and earned his associate’s degree in religious theology prior to enlistment. He married Barbara Fitzhugh following his time in the military, and the two raised three sons, Eric, Marty and Drew. He and Barbara later divorced, and Brian married Goldwyn ‘Gwen’ Chapman.

Brian was a loving and generous husband, father and poppa. He enjoyed traveling, sports, reading and completing crossword puzzles.

Brian was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Opal.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Gwen; sons, Eric (Stephanie), Marty (Becki) and Drew; grandchildren, Amanda, Connor, Mason and Madalynn; nieces and nephews, Gary, Shawn, and Scott Stark, Erin Spencer and Denise Hopkins; and siblings, David, Leonard, and Larry Stark and Gail Lundquist.

A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, at Harrison Square Presbyterian Church, 1227 Harrison Ave., Centralia, WA 98531. Light refreshments will be served following the service in the church’s foyer.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Mike Rowe WORKS Foundation, a foundation dedicated to assisting students interested in earning a trade degree without going into debt. For more information see: https://www.mikeroweworks.org/scholarship/