Rev. Roy G. Sparks, a 93-year-old resident of California, MO, died on Friday, Aug. 13, 2010 at California Care Center.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010 at Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services in California with Rev. Greg Morrow officiating. Burial will be in California Masonic Cemetery.
Visitation will from 5 to 7 o'clock tonight (Monday, Aug. 16, 2010) at the funeral home, with a Masonic Service at 7 o'clock.
Rev. Sparks was born on March 20, 1917 in Princeton, the son of Asa V. and Maude George Sparks, He was married on May 16, 1942 in Princeton to Arlene McKinney, who survives of California. He attended Princeton High School and Hannibal-LaGrange College.
Rev. Sparks was a Southern Baptist minister, serving in many Baptist churches in Missouri, including Farley, Pleasant Ridge, Zion, Ravanna, Brimson, Green Ridge, Huntsdale, Mt. Moriah, Salem and Pisgah. He received recognition from the Missouri State Legislature for over 50 years of ministry, and was a member of Salem Baptist Church. He also served as mayor, a member of the city council, and Chief of Police in California and was a dispatcher for Moniteau County. He drove a school bus for three different school districts, as well as driving for the sheltered workshop. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge #183, as well as Royal Arch, and Kiwanis Club. He delivered Meals-on-Wheels for many years.
In addition to his wife, Rev. Sparks is survived by two sons, Gary Sparks and his wife, Marilyn, of Tyler, TX, and David Sparks and his wife, Debbie, of California; one daughter, Patricia Edwards and her husband, Larry of Bixby, OK; one brother, Winton Sparks of Princeton; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters and one brother.
Memorials are suggested to either Salem Baptist Church or California Care Center Residents' Fund, c/o Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services, 100 S. Oak, California, MO 65018.