DOROTHY LAUREEN STARBUCK, FIRST WOMAN TO BECOME A VA MANAGER

Dorothy Laureen Starbuck loved challenges, and became the first female
manager hired by the Veterans Administration.

''It was when women first went into the service and she felt it was a
challenge she wanted to try,'' said her sister Lucille Strawn of
Golden. ''She was very proud to be named a manager. She was perfectly
happy with what she had accomplished.'

Ms. Starbuck died July 19 at The Villas at Sunny Acres nursing home in
Thornton. She was 78.

Services were held at Moore Howard Mortuary on July 23. Burial was at
Fort Logan National Cemetery.

Born Oct. 17, 1917, in Denver, she graduated from Loretto Heights
College in Denver in 1939, and completed graduate work at the
University of Denver in 1941.

She taught elementary school in Holly for a year before entering the
Army in 1942 as a private. She served two years in France and Germany,
including a staff assignment with Gen. Omar Bradley. She mustered out
in 1946 with the rank of captain.

Ms. Starbuck then joined the Veterans Administration as a clerk in
Chicago and moved to Maryland in 1962 when she was appointed assistant
director of the Baltimore Regional Office.

It was the first time a woman had been named a VA manager.

A year later, she was named director of the Denver regional office and
played a key role in bringing computer technology to claims
processing.

Ms. Starbuck headed the area field offices from the VA's Central
Office in Washington, D.C., in 1967 and was selected to be the chief
benefits director in 1977, a position she held for 7 1/2 years.

''She was totally in charge of all benefits of all veterans,'' said
her sister. ''She absolutely loved it. It was her life.''

She retired in 1985 and returned to Denver in May.

In 1978, she received the President's Award for Distinguished Federal
Civilian Service, the highest recognition for federal employees.

President Reagan told Ms. Starbuck: ''You can take great satisfaction
in knowing that you have made a difference to the countless veterans
and dependents who benefited from your skill and dedication.''

In 1982, she was named a distinguished executive, the highest rank in
the Senior Executive Services.

In addition to Strawn, Ms. Starbuck is survived by two other sisters,
Florence Wailes of Missoula, Mont., and Maureen DiNunzio of
Washington, D.C.; a brother, Bertrand J. Starbuck of Denver; a
sister-in-law, Genevieve Starbuck of Louisville; and several nieces
and nephews.

Contributions may be sent to the Starbuck Fluency Clinic, SUNY
Geneseo, 100 College Circle, Geneseo, N.Y. 14454-1301.


Rocky Mountain News (CO)
Date: July 26, 1996
Edition: Final
Page: 14B