Daily Courier Editor Ritchie Starnes dies unexpectedly

By SCOTT CARPENTER scarpenter@thedigitalcourier.com Jul 10, 2023 Updated Jul 10, 2023 

RUTHERFORDTON — The Daily Courier, with deep sadness, announces the unexpected death of Ritchie Starnes, who served as editor since January, 2019. He was also editor of The Lenoir News Topic since 2021.

He died Friday, July 7, while on vacation in Folly Beach, South Carolina.

Starnes had worked for newspapers for more than 24 years, and had earned awards from the North Carolina Press Association.

He had worked as an investigator before transitioning to journalism. Starnes had worked at newspapers in Elizabeth City, Union County, and Stanly County.