Elaine May (Campbell) Starbuck, 78, of Unadilla, NY, passed away surrounded by loved ones on September 2, 2025, in Albany, N.Y. after a battle with cancer that she didn't lose but tied!

Elaine was born on October 5, 1946 to Donald Zenus Campbell and Beatrice Adelaide (Miner) Campbell in Sidney, NY. Elaine graduated from Sidney High School in 1964, she went on to receive her certificate in Secretarial Studies from Fulton Montgomery Community College.

Elaine reconnected with her longtime love, James Edwin Starbuck at her parents' home in Youngs Station after her father had enlisted his help. They were married August 20, 1983 and remained together sharing their endless amounts of love and fun with all those who were lucky enough to know them for the rest of their days.

Elaine has 3 children Robert Hull-Ryde, Sheena Lynne (Starbuck) Biddy, and Ashley Lynne Starbuck and 4 grandchildren James, Donald, Oliver, and Catherine Biddy. Elaine's love for her children and grandchildren was boundless. She would go above and beyond to make sure that they knew they were loved. She often did everything in her power and somethings beyond her power to help them in any way that she could.

Elaine was a very active member of her church family at the United Methodist Church in Unadilla, NY. She served as a Sunday School teacher for many years and was always involved in dinners, leadership council, and breakfast in the basement which was a favorite of hers. She was a woman of many talents. She was an avid homemaker who canned and preserved just about anything. She spent her falls, after harvesting the home garden, making homemade apple sauce, spaghetti sauce, stewed tomatoes, all manner of vegetables, as well as her beloved corn chowder. She loved to travel and go for rides with her family and enjoy the fall leaves, fresh snow, budding flowers, and rich greens of summer. She loved the holidays and she was involved in placing the luminaries around Unadilla on Christmas Eve for a number of years. She also always loved reading from her bible that she received in her youth. Each day Elaine would read scripture and share it with those around her. She lived to embody the absolute best of what a Christian could be; loving, unjudging, giving, and kind. Those who knew her knew that she succeeded in being an example of what is a Christian to others.

Elaine was predeceased by her husband James Edwin Starbuck, Parents Donald Campbell and Beatrice Adelaide (Miner) Campbell, Siblings Seth (Ann) Campbell, Richard (Delores) Campbell, Sandra (Nelson) Vermilyea, and Patricia (Gary) Gonyea. As well as, several nieces and nephews Jeffery Degan, James Campbell, Vickie Vermilyea, Patty Farley and her first husband Richard Ruby. She is survived by her children Robert (Celia) Hull-Ryde and their children Steven and Jennifer of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Sheena (Kayla) Starbuck Biddy and their children James, Donald, Oliver, and Catherine of Masonville, New York, Ashley (Cameron Stahl) Starbuck of Albany, New York. Her sister Darlene (Don) Campbell, brother-in-laws Nelson Vermilyea and Timothy (Barb) Green. Nieces and nephews Christopher (Karen) Gonyea, Gary Gonyea II, Violet (Jeffery) Campbell, Richard Campbell II, Michael (Laurie) Campbell, Robin (Jason) Corlis, Peggy Cook, Kristen (Ron) Spranger, Kim (Rob) Velasco, Kelly (Greg) Tymchyn, and Timothy (Jen) Green III. And many great nieces, nephews and a life time of friends.

Services will be held at Unadilla United Methodist Church 170 Main Street, Unadilla New York on October 18, 2025 at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Unadilla United Methodist Church, an organization Elaine strongly believed in and which felt like her home.