7/25/2020 - Dianne Starcher Weaver, associate editor of the Hur Herald, and her brother Stuart Starcher, a Vietnam vet, both distant relatives of Calhoun Vietnam causality Marine Eddie Dean Starcher, have been planning a special dedication service in naming the Egypt Ridge Bridge for him.

The bridge is located near his homeplace, and was the location of the neighborhoods old swimming hole.

The West Virginia Department of Highways have already erected the signage, while an official ceremony has been postponed because of COVID-19

3/16/2020 - The West Virginia Legislature, with a bill introduced by Del. Roger Hanshaw, has officially name the new Egypt Ridge Bridge, the "Eddie Dean Starcher Memorial Bridge."

Starcher was a Calhoun fatality in the Vietnam war.

A special dedication will be scheduled later, dependent on the Coronavirus, with invitations being extended to military groups, officials, family and community members.

The bridge dedication was initiated by Hur Herald Editor Dianne Weaver and her brother, Stuart Starcher, a Vietnam veteran, distant relatives of the honored man.

NEW EGYPT RIDGE BRIDGE TO BE NAMED - Vietnam Causality "Eddie Dean Starcher Memorial Bridge"

Lance Cpl. Eddie Dean Starcher

By Bob Weaver

A Rocksdale, Calhoun boy was a Vietnam War causality in 1966, a victim when his unit was struck by sniper fire in DaNang.

Lance Cpl. Eddie Dean Starcher's body was returned to Calhoun, laid to rest in Bethlehem Cemetery with rites by the US Marine Corps.

Starcher grew up in the Rocksdale community, son of late Denvil and Bertie Louise Short Starcher and was a graduate of Calhoun High School and Mountain State Business College.

The historical bridge was built in 1899...

See 130 Year Old Egypt Ridge Bridge Dropped Into The West Fork

...The new bridge completed in 2019 after 130 years

In his childhood, he and his brothers swan under the Egypt Ridge Bridge with other kids from the neighborhood, at one time a deep hole of water, a swinging rope for diving hung on a nearby tree for decades.

He was married to Judith Riddle, who died in 2011, and is buried beside him in Bethlehem Cemetery. Following his death, his widow was long-suffering with mental health issues for the rest of her life.

He had three brothers, Arnold Starcher, now living in Florida, Denvil Starcher, Jr., now of Elizabeth WV, and Glen Starcher, now deceased, of Letherbark.

Being a Starcher, he has hundreds of relatives in the Starcher clan.

A memorial was dedicated at the Calhoun County Park in 1973
to honor Lance Cpl. Starcher by the Calhoun Jr. Odd Fellows

(L) Judith Ann (Riddle) Starcher, his wife died
in 2011, buried by her husband in the Bethlehem
Cemetery, she was the Calhoun High School Home-
coming Queen in 1964 (R) Vietnam War Memorial Wall
in Washington DC, inscription for Eddie Dean Starcher

"Mac" Nicholson (L) and Eddie Dean Starcher in ear-
lier days, the Starcher and Nicholson families were
the last operators of the historic Rocksdale Store

Requesting the Division of Highways to rename the Egypt Ridge Bridge to the "Eddie Dean Starcher Memorial Bridge."

Whereas, the state of West Virginia seeks to honor the memory of Lance Corporal Eddie Dean Starcher; and

Whereas, Eddie Dean Starcher was born August 11, 1944 as the son of Denvil and Bertie Louise Short Starcher, as well as a resident of Henry’s Fork; and

Whereas, in order to honor the service of Lance Corporal Starcher, who was serving his country in the United States Marine Corps when he was killed on November 15, 1966 by sniper fire during an attack on American soldiers at the Da Nang Province in Vietnam during the Vietnam War; and

Whereas, to commemorate the enduring legacy of both Lance Corporal Starcher and his descendants in Calhoun County and for the entire State of West Virginia; and

Whereas, by suggestion of Calhoun County citizens Dianne Starcher Weaver and her brother Stuart Starcher, distant cousin of Lance Corporal Starcher, that this be a fitting tribute to the legacy of a great man; and

Whereas, it is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate Lance Corporal Starcher’s legacy to the state of West Virginia; therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Delegates that the Division of Highways is hereby requested to rename the newly built Egypt Ridge Bridge to the “Eddie Dean Starcher Memorial Bridge,” and be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs at both ends of the bridge identifying it as being hereinafter referred to as the "Eddie Dean Starcher Memorial Bridge;" and be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.