LEWISTON – Helen L. Starbird, 83, of 115 Pleasant St., Auburn, passed away Sunday, May 30, at Russell Park Manor, where she had lived for the past two years.

Born in Lewiston, July 5, 1920, the daughter of Ora R. and Myrtle E. Stevens Eastman, she lived in Auburn, attending Pine Street School, until age 6, when the family moved to Waterville. In Waterville, she attended North Grammar School, Waterville Junior and Senior High Schools and Gatchell Street Baptist Church.

When her mother passed away in 1935, she spent the next several years caring for four younger siblings, until her father remarried. She returned to Auburn (Danville) in 1939, worked at Fletcher’s Store and played in Fletcher’s Old-Time Orchestra for country dances.

On May 23, 1943, she married Charles M. Starbird of Danville. They lived in Danville and raised three daughters. She was a member and assistant organist of the Danville Union Church. She was also a member of the Danville Grange and enjoyed acting in their dramas and minstrel shows.

Her husband died in 1969, and she moved to Pleasant Street, Auburn, the following year. She then worked as a cook at the Odd Fellow’s Home in Auburn, until her retirement in 1982.

Her greatest loves were her family, her flower gardens, music and the ocean.

Survivors include three daughters, Jeanie Manning of Lincoln, and Eleanor Starbird and Laura Starbird of Auburn; four grandchildren, Heather Gould of Exeter, Robert Jenney of Sabattus, and Joshua Rankin and Jeremy Rankin, both of Lincoln; four great-grandchildren, Aaron Gilks and Andrea Jenney of Sabattus, and Alex and Ryan Gould of Exeter; three brothers, Donald Eastman of Baltimore, Md., Walter Eastman of Palm Bay, Fla., and Richard Martin of Tennessee; six sisters, Evelyn Maheu of Canaan, Rose Micue of Clinton, Phyllis Corey of Sidney, Florence Eames of Waterville, Roberta Brown of Terryville, Conn., and Wilma Eastman of Waterville; a sister-in-law, Jeannette Eastman of Fairfield; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a sister, Gladys Bucknam; a brother, Robert Eastman; a niece, Linda Vincent; a grand-nephew, Gary Bucknam; a grandniece, Barbara Talpey; and her stepmother, Ella Eastman.

She will be greatly missed her family, friends and neighbors.

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