Obituary of Kenneth Sparks

Funeral services for Kenneth Ray Sparks, age 80, of Sulphur Springs will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, March 10, 2013 at West Oaks Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Horace Shirey and Bro. Jerry Savage officiating. Interment will follow at New Pickton Cemetery with Justin Sparks, Austin Sparks, Micah Walker, Maselyn Walker, Colby Short, Conner Bryan and Blake Smith serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be David Sparks, Lewis Orr, Robert Blain, Bill Hager, Gordon Bench, Gerald Moore, Bill Brewer and Mel Panter. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Saturday, March 9, 2013 at West Oaks Funeral Home. Mr. Sparks passed away Friday, March 8, 2013 at U T Southwestern in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Sparks was born on December 25, 1932, in Pickton, Texas, the son of James Starling Sparks and Fanny Burns Sparks. He graduated High School in Pickton, Texas, he served as Sergeant in the United States Army for three years and served in the Korean War. He received his Business Administration Degree at University of Texas in Austin in 1964. He worked at Exxon in Kingsville, Texas and later worked as a supervisor at CampbellÂ’s Soup in Paris, Texas. Then for many years he operated his family-owned dairy in Hopkins County. After he retired from dairying, he worked as a USDA inspector in Mount Pleasant, Texas for several years. He enjoyed retirement living in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and traveling in their motor home with his wife of 55 years, Patricia Mynette Sparks. He was a member of League Street Church of Christ in Sulphur Springs, Texas. In addition to his wife he is survived by, brother, Pat Sparks and wife Norma, his children, Kris Walker and husband Greg of Bullard, Robby Sparks and wife Carmen of Mount Vernon, Stephen Sparks of Winnsboro, Kreg Sparks and wife Coni of Mount Vernon, grandchildren, Kaylee Bryan and husband Connor of Ruidoso, NM, Kenzie Smith and husband Blake of Bullard, Justin Sparks and wife Hannah of Greenville, Micah Walker and wife Kaleigh of Fredericksburg, Austin Sparks and wife Alyssa of Tyler, Maselyn Walker of Bullard, Colby Short, Taylor Sparks, Carsyn Sparks and Carly Sparks of Mount Vernon, 8 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Pauline Jordan and Lydia Orr, brothers, Tobe Sparks and Valton Sparks. Memorials may be made to Boles Home, 705 Love Lane, Quinlan, TX 75474 or to Camp Deer Run, 1227 CR 4590, Winnsboro, TX 75494. Arrangements are under the direction of West Oaks Funeral Home. www.westoaksfuneralhome.com