Person Page - 2193

     Solon Lee Starr was born on 7 October 1903, Kansas.¹ He was the son of Gabriel Emanuel Starr and Beulah May Erdman.¹ Solon Lee Starr married Ruth Ann Miller, daughter of Jason L. Miller and Mary L. Crabtree, on 22 March 1939, Vinita, OK.^2,3,4 Solon Lee Starr died on 4 February 1979, Abilene, Taylor County, TX, at age 75.¹
Online biography
Solon was born the eldest child of five to Gabriel Emanuiel Starr and Beulah May Erdman. Brother and sisters were Regina, Willa, Velma Jean and Erdman. At an early age he developed a desire to be a magician. He performed with several circuses including Ringling Bros., Barnum and Bailey, and Russell Brothers. He performed under the name of "The Great Ramon." He married Ruth Ann Miller in Vinita, OK on Mar. 22, 1939. One of his most memorable occasions was being awarded Harry Houdini's Buddah Head ring by Houdini's wife after his death in 1923. During WW II he worked as an electrician on Navy destroyers in Orange, TX. After the war he was a staff supervisor for The American National Insurance Co. in Houston, TX. However he never put down his magician's wand. He continued to perform for schools, scouts, birthday parties and Boys Ranch.
He and Ruth Ann had two children, Sidney Louise and Solon Leon. Upon his death he was honored by a "broken wand ceremony" performed at his funeral. He was a member and past president of the local magicians group, Key Ring 181.

Newspaper obituary:
Solon Starr Solon Lee Starr, 75, 2334 Glendale, an Abilene magician who worked with the Great Blackstone and received a "double Buddha ring" from Houdini, died Sunday in his home.
Starr's family is preparing à "broken wand ceremony" to be performed at his funeral. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, Highway 277.
With a career in magic starting in the 1920s, Mr. Starr had been a member and past president of Key Ring 181, a local group of magicians.
Born Oct. 7, 1903, in Larned, Kan., Mr. Starr had first worked under the Great Blackstone, but developed his own tricks entirely, the most famous of which used Java doves. One of his most unique tricks consisted of making the birds vanish from one cage and reappear in another.
He married Ruth Ann Miller in 1939 in Oklahoma, after she came to work as an assistant in his shows, participating in levitation acts. He moved to Abilene from Houston in 1953.
Survivors include his wife, of t the home; a son, Solon Leon of Baton Rouge, La; a daughter, Sidney Starr Steele of Nederland: three sisters, Regina Esau, Willie Stratton and Velma Jean English, all of Newton, Kan; and three grandchildren.
Abilene Reporter-News, February 7, 1979, Page 7.^5,6
He was buried at Elmwood Memorial Park, Abilene, Taylor County, TX.⁷

     Ruth Ann Miller was born on 10 November 1922, Denver, Denver County, CO.¹ She was the daughter of Jason L. Miller and Mary L. Crabtree.¹ Ruth Ann Miller married Solon Lee Starr, son of Gabriel Emanuel Starr and Beulah May Erdman, on 22 March 1939, Vinita, OK.^2,1,3 Ruth Ann Miller died on 17 November 1988, Nederland, Jefferson County, TX, at age 66.^1,4,5
Online obituary:
Ruth Ann Matilda Miller was born the sixth child of seven to Jason Marion Miller and Mary Crabtree. Brothers and sisters were Ray Marion, Fannie Mae (Betty), Elsie Margaret, Baby Miller, Charles "Charlie" Alvin and Frank Leslie.
Early in her life her family moved to Tahlequah, OK, where she attended Cherokee Indian Schools. She was always proud of her Cherokee heritage as evident from the Thunderbird emblem on her headstone.
She married Solon Lee Starr of Newton, KS. on March 22, 1939, in Vinita, OK. They lived in Orange and Houston, TX before moving to Abilene, TX in 1953. In Abilene she was a Purchasing Supervisor for Timex for more than 20 years. At the time of her death she was a Purchasing Supervisor for Hendrick Medical Center. She was a member of the Eastern Star, American Business Women's Association, International Brotherhood of Magicians and First Central Presbyterian Church.
Ruth Ann and Solon had two children, Sidney Louise and Solon Leon.²
She was buried at Elmwood Memorial Park, Abilene, Taylor County, TX.²

     Jason L. Miller married Mary L. Crabtree.¹

     Mary L. Crabtree married Jason L. Miller.¹

     Solon Leon Starr was born on 20 October 1946, Harris County, TX.² He was the son of Solon Lee Starr and Ruth Ann Miller.¹ Solon Leon Starr and Kay Leueen Klingemann were engaged in May 1967.³ Solon Leon Starr married Kay Leueen Klingemann, daughter of Wilburn Bruce Klingemann and Rubilee Godwin, on 15 August 1967, Taylor County, TX.⁴ Solon Leon Starr died on 23 May 2013, at age 66.⁵ He was buried at Port Hudson National Cemetery, Zachary, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA.⁵

     Regina R. Starr was born on 22 October 1905, Kansas.^1,2 She was the daughter of Gabriel Emanuel Starr and Beulah May Erdman.¹ Regina was a public school teacher in Kansas.³ Regina R. Starr died on 14 November 1997, at age 92.¹ She was buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Newton, Harvey County, KS.⁴

     Willa Norine Starr was born on 17 November 1908, Newton, Harvey County, KS.¹ She was the daughter of Gabriel Emanuel Starr and Beulah May Erdman.¹ Willa Norine Starr married Kermit M. Strattan on 17 February 1926.¹ Willa Norine Starr died on 28 August 2011, Presbyterian Manor, Newton, Harvey County, KS, at age 102.¹
Newspaper obituary:
NEWTON — Willa Norine Strattan, 102, passed away on Sunday (Aug. 28, 2011) at Presbyterian Manor in Newton.
She was born on Nov. 17, 1908, in Newton, the daughter of Gabriel and Beulah Erdmann Starr. On Feb. 17, 1936, she married Kermit M. Strattan in Newton, and she was a homemaker for most of her life. He preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Robert (Vada M.) Strattan of Tulsa, Okla; two grandsons, Barry (Laura) Strattan of Palmdale, Calif., and Scott Strattan of Broken Arrow, Okla; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Kermit Strattan; two brothers, Solon and Erdman Starr; and two sisters, Regina Starr Esau and Velma Jean English.
Cremation has occurred, and there will be a graveside memorial service at 10 a.m. Friday at Walton City Cemetery in Walton. The Rev. Dr. George W. Mitchell will preside.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Luke Church or Newton Presbyterian Manor, in care of the funeral home.
Petersen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
(Obit from Newton Kansan.)²
She was buried at Walton Cemetery, Walton, Harvey County, KS.²

     Kermit M. Strattan was born on 27 August 1905.² He married Willa Norine Starr, daughter of Gabriel Emanuel Starr and Beulah May Erdman, on 17 February 1926.¹ Kermit M. Strattan died on 9 November 1994, at age 89.² He was buried at Walton Cemetery, Walton, Harvey County, KS.²

     Kay Leueen Klingemann was born on 26 May 1949, Austin, Travis County, TX.^2,1 She was the daughter of Wilburn Bruce Klingemann and Rubilee Godwin.¹ Kay Leueen Klingemann and Solon Leon Starr were engaged in May 1967.³ Kay Leueen Klingemann married Solon Leon Starr, son of Solon Lee Starr and Ruth Ann Miller, on 15 August 1967, Taylor County, TX.⁴ Kay Leueen Klingemann died on 27 December 2006, Reno, Washoe County, NV, at age 57.^2,5