Susan Starnes, a longtime Houston television journalist whose reporting helped viewers understand everything from the Space Shuttle program to medical breakthroughs, has died. She passed away peacefully on June 17, 2026, at the age of 73, according to her obituary.
Starnes spent more than two decades in broadcast journalism, building a respected career as a reporter, anchor, and broadcaster before later transitioning into real estate.
Houston viewers first came to know Starnes during her seven years at KPRC 2, where she served as the station's science reporter from 1981 to 1988. During that time, she covered 22 of the first 24 Space Shuttle missions, reporting extensively on NASA's achievements as well as the tragedy of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, when seven astronauts lost their lives.
In 1988, Starnes joined KHOU 11, where she became the station's medical reporter. For the next decade, she delivered regular health and medical reports on the station's 5 p.m. newscast, highlighting advances in healthcare and the groundbreaking work underway at the Texas Medical Center.
Her reporting earned numerous awards for coverage of the space program, hurricanes, health and medicine, and more.
After leaving television in the late 1990s, Starnes began a second career in Houston real estate. She also briefly returned to broadcasting, working as a weekend anchor, editor, and reporter for News92 KROI in Houston from 2013 to 2014.
Former 101 KLOL, FOX 26 KRIV, and News 92 reporter Lanny Griffith met Starnes during her Channel 11 days and worked with her at News 92.
"Excellent writer, compassionate storyteller who embraced her subjects entirely," Griffith told mikemcguff.com. "She treasured the written word and had a dark, wicked, and healthy sense of humor. She was a story's best friend. Terribly hate losing her."
Outside of her professional life, the University of Texas at Austin graduate was known for her commitment to serving others through volunteer work and her active involvement in her church choir, where she shared her passion for music and faith.
(Thanks, Bob.)
