Body found by firefighters after house fire in South Tampa

An overnight house fire in South Tampa claimed the life of a popular local gardener, 66-year-old John Starnes.

In fact, Starnes is said to have given the pink Florida Cracker rose its name.

“He's the rose guy if you want to know about roses you'd just ask John,” said Kitty Wallace, president of the Tampa Garden Club. “I am just going to miss his enthusiasm and all the knowledge he shared with the garden community.”

Firefighters tell FOX 13 an "electrical malfunction" in the West Paxton Avenue home's northeast living room likely caused the fire.  When firefighters arrived, they had to wait to go in because a live power line was hanging down and sparking near the front door. 

Starnes never made it out.  Hours later, though his dog, Cracker was located and appeared frightened, but not hurt.

“It is sad. John was a good guy, just unbelievably sad,” said neighbor Donald Phillippo.

Wallace told FOX 13’s Josh Cascio that growing roses is challenging, especially under the hot Florida sun, but it's something Starnes loved and had a knack for, and everyone knew to call him if their flower-bed needed that special touch.

“He definitely had a special touch with roses and everything he grew in his garden,” she said.