Obituary: Stark, Carl James
Age 81
His first three or four years the family moved around a good bit, living in tents and tar paper shacks while his father drove a rock truck and acted as a foreman for a road paving company.
Carl attended Logan Grade School.
Carl’s family spent his 9th grade year in Ashtabula, OH, and then moved back to Spokane.
Carl entered North Central High School, but soon the family moved to Coeur d’Alene, ID, where Carl and his dad built and operated a motel and restaurant.
Carl attended Coeur d’Alene High School, played varsity football, worked after school in the family business, and graduated as salutatorian in 1950.
At age 17, Carl won an appointment to the USMA at West Point, NY, and became one of the youngest ever to enter the academy.
He graduated 70th in his class of 633 and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Corps of Engineers.
Carl attended Engineer School at Ft. Belvoir, Ranger School at Ft. Benning, and Atomic Weapon School at Ft. Lewis.
Carl was assigned to the 535th Light Equipment Co. in Mannheim, Germany.
Carl worked hard and moved up quickly.
In six months he assumed command of the company.
In September of 1953, Carl’s roommate, Jim Cooper, invited him home to West Virginia, where he met Jim’s sister, Carol.
After Carol graduated from WVU in 1955, they were married and moved to Mannheim, Germany.
Their eldest son, Dick was born in the Heidelberg Hospital.
In 1957 Carl resigned his commission and moved his family to Spokane.
He started work with the Max Kuney Construction Co., as an estimator and project manager.
After eight months, he was sent to Portland, OR to manage the largest building project the company had taken on to that date, a portion of the Lloyd Center.
Carl returned to Spokane in April 1960 and was put in charge of Spokane area construction.
In 1962, he was promoted to Manager of the Bridge and Building Dept.
for the entire company and became a vice president of the firm in 1969.
After 40 years working for Kuney, Carl retired in 1998.
He helped transform the company into one of the largest bridge contractors in the Pacific Northwest.
Carl loved construction and under his watch the company constructed over 70 buildings, including over 40 major buildings, and over 250 bridges.
Some of the buildings included the Spokane Opera House and Convention Center and the Spokane County Jail.
Major bridge work included the Spokane downtown I-90 viaduct and the I-90 viaduct in Wallace, ID.
Carl joined Manito Presbyterian Church at age 28 and his faith grew and impacted his life.
About this time, Carl was taking on more responsibilities in his work, and a large number of people were dependent on his success for their livelihood.
Carl regularly turned to the Lord, asking God for help to do his best, and for God to provide work for all the employees and tradesmen.
Carl and Carol also raised their children in the church, passing along their spiritual heritage.
Carl later became a member of Southside Christian Church.
Carl’s family was always of utmost importance to him.
Carl passed along a loving, generous spirit, a strong work ethic, faith in God, value of education, and making a difference in people’s lives.
He also provided many enjoyable opportunities for his family, including memorable times at the family cabin, boating and waterskiing, and golf.
Carl is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carol; four children, Richard Stark and wife, Liz of Vienna, VA, Cynthia Carter and husband, Greg of Yakima, WA, David Stark of Spokane, and Nancy Montstream and husband, Mark of Seattle; eight grandchildren, Christopher, Amy and Cameron Stark, Emily and Timothy Carter, Michaela, Jacqueline and Antonio Montstream; and one great grandchild, Chloe Stark Pugulsi.
A memorial service will be held at Southside Christian Church, 2934 E. 27th Ave, Spokane, WA, 2PM on Tues, Nov.19.
Donations can be made in Carl’s honor to Parkinson’s Resource Center of Spokane, 910 W. 5th Ave., Suite 256, Spokane, WA 99204 or Hospice of Spokane.