George Starling Pelletier

George Starling Pelletier, age 101, died on June 19, 2023.

Starling was born to the late Mary (Mollie) Sabiston Pelletier and Jeremiah Rufus Pelletier on October 18, 1921, in Maysville, North Carolina. He was predeceased in death by his sister, Mary Barker Pelletier Bell, and his wife, Sarah Weeks Pelletier.

He is survived by his brother, Jere Rufus Pelletier of Jacksonville, North Carolina, and his daughters: Sarah (Sally) Sabiston Pelletier of Baltimore, Maryland, Ann Pelletier Lane (Scott) of Arlington, Virginia and his three grandchildren: Mary (Mollie) Morrow Lane, Emma Hughes Lane, and William Griffith Lane.

In 1938, he enrolled in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and shortly before graduation enlisted in the US Army Air Corps during WWII. After completing his service, Starling returned to Maysville to work for The Pelletier & Weeks Company. In 1962, he established Pelletier Oil and Fertilizer, Inc., which he owned and operated until 1986.

During WWII, Starling was assigned to RAF Martlesham Heath in England from which he flew 72 missions as a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot in the 356th Fighter Group in Eighth Air Force. His first flight mission occurred on June 6, 1944—D-Day. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in addition to four Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal. After completing his tour of combat operations, he returned stateside to instruct new pilots.

A life-long Methodist, he gave generously of his time and resources serving on numerous committees at the Maysville United Methodist Church over a fifty-year time period. He was a charter member of the Maysville Rotary Club established in 1947, remained an active member until 2007, and was a Paul Harris Fellow.

His commitment to the University of North Carolina spanned almost 70 years. He was a mainstay of the selection process for Morehead Scholarship recipients as the Chair of the Jones County Selection Committee from 1953-1980 and continued to serve as a member of the Jones County Committee until 1988. A Lifetime Member of the General Alumni Association, he contributed annually to the Alumni Annual Fund, the Carolina Fund as well as the Rams Club dating back to the early 1950s.

The family extends its gratitude and appreciation for the nurturing care provided by his personal caregiver Michael Price, the Orchard staff at Croasdaile Village, and Duke Hospice.

A graveside service celebrating Starling’s life will be held at the Maysville Cemetery on Friday, June 30 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Morehead-Cain Foundation, PO Box 690, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 or www.moreheadcain.org.