Loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great great-grandfather, brother, and friend passed away June 16, 2014. He was born Feb. 22, 1921 in Montpelier. He was the first son to Macy and Marvin Sparks. Jay graduated from high school in 1940 in Montpelier. He was a four year letterman in boxing and track.
After graduation he enlisted in the Air Force in Salt Lake City. He was assigned to the 17th Bomb Group in Tacoma, Wash., (which was the group that bombed Tokyo, with B-25Œs flown off an aircraft carrier). This was under Colonel Jimmy Doolittles plan. He was proud of the Air Force and even prouder to have served. He was promoted to Master Sgt and later as 1st Sgt of the 475th Bomb Squadron at the age of 22. He retired from the Air Force in 1963 as a Senior Master Sgt and World War II Veteran. After that, Jay spent one year in civil services as an Assistant Commissary Officer. Due to his fatherfs declining health, Jay resigned his commission and returned to Montpelier in 1965.
He went to work as a sales supervisor for Allen Foods, a larger company out of St. Louis, Mo. He called upon military bases, state institutions, schools and colleges in Idaho, Mont., and Wyo. He worked for Allen Foods for 16 years.
Jay married Emma Lou Walker in Shreiveport, La., in 1942. By this union they had three children; Barry, Gloria, and Deanna. They later divorced in 1965.
He married Marina Pugmire in 1978. From this union he gained two beautiful step daughters that he considered his own, Frances Cook and Donna Bienz. He also enjoyed the other members of the Pugmire family; Steve, Rex, Reed, and Terry. Marina and Jay enjoyed life and good health. They enjoyed many vacations together in Mexico, Bahamas, California, and Florida, just to name a few. Marina and Jay spent several years as snowbirds going to Yuma, Ariz. in the winters. Jay was a member of the LDS church. He belonged to the VFW and other military organizations. He enjoyed fly fishing and hunting with one of his best friends, Don Kunz. He also enjoyed all sports and would watch them all on T.V. but what he really enjoyed was watching his grandchildren and even great-grandchildren playing sports. There wasnft a sport Jay didnft love! He was preceded in death by his parents, his only brother Therald, sister Fern, daughter Gloria Sparks Gray and grandchildren; Jerry Bienz and Jared Larson.
Jayfs grandchildren are Tricia (Cook)Poulsen, Deana Cook, JB Bienz, Jordan Bienz, Hope Morales, Joni (Larson) Gould, Mallory (Larson) Neill, Steffan Larson, Bert Sparks, Kadina Adell (Sparks) Bardsley, Kelsey (Sparks) King, Marcus Colbus jr., John Colbus and Jeffery Lynn Sparks. Great grandchildren: (Triciafs) Lacey, Hailey, Courtney and Shayden, (Deanafs) Tristan and Trever, (Adellfs) JJ and Jasmine, (Jonifs) Samantha, Brighton, and Claire and (Malloryfs) Ashton and Paisley. Great-great -grandchildren: (Laceyfs) Drason and Daxton. He enjoyed family celebrations and any reason to get the family together. Having company over made his day. He and Marina were always the best hosts. He was always the life of the party with his quick humor and his sometimes unbelievable stories.
He had a long and happy life that we should all hope to have. We will miss you.
After graduation he enlisted in the Air Force in Salt Lake City. He was assigned to the 17th Bomb Group in Tacoma, Wash., (which was the group that bombed Tokyo, with B-25Œs flown off an aircraft carrier). This was under Colonel Jimmy Doolittles plan. He was proud of the Air Force and even prouder to have served. He was promoted to Master Sgt and later as 1st Sgt of the 475th Bomb Squadron at the age of 22. He retired from the Air Force in 1963 as a Senior Master Sgt and World War II Veteran. After that, Jay spent one year in civil services as an Assistant Commissary Officer. Due to his fatherfs declining health, Jay resigned his commission and returned to Montpelier in 1965.
He went to work as a sales supervisor for Allen Foods, a larger company out of St. Louis, Mo. He called upon military bases, state institutions, schools and colleges in Idaho, Mont., and Wyo. He worked for Allen Foods for 16 years.
Jay married Emma Lou Walker in Shreiveport, La., in 1942. By this union they had three children; Barry, Gloria, and Deanna. They later divorced in 1965.
He married Marina Pugmire in 1978. From this union he gained two beautiful step daughters that he considered his own, Frances Cook and Donna Bienz. He also enjoyed the other members of the Pugmire family; Steve, Rex, Reed, and Terry. Marina and Jay enjoyed life and good health. They enjoyed many vacations together in Mexico, Bahamas, California, and Florida, just to name a few. Marina and Jay spent several years as snowbirds going to Yuma, Ariz. in the winters. Jay was a member of the LDS church. He belonged to the VFW and other military organizations. He enjoyed fly fishing and hunting with one of his best friends, Don Kunz. He also enjoyed all sports and would watch them all on T.V. but what he really enjoyed was watching his grandchildren and even great-grandchildren playing sports. There wasnft a sport Jay didnft love! He was preceded in death by his parents, his only brother Therald, sister Fern, daughter Gloria Sparks Gray and grandchildren; Jerry Bienz and Jared Larson.
Jayfs grandchildren are Tricia (Cook)Poulsen, Deana Cook, JB Bienz, Jordan Bienz, Hope Morales, Joni (Larson) Gould, Mallory (Larson) Neill, Steffan Larson, Bert Sparks, Kadina Adell (Sparks) Bardsley, Kelsey (Sparks) King, Marcus Colbus jr., John Colbus and Jeffery Lynn Sparks. Great grandchildren: (Triciafs) Lacey, Hailey, Courtney and Shayden, (Deanafs) Tristan and Trever, (Adellfs) JJ and Jasmine, (Jonifs) Samantha, Brighton, and Claire and (Malloryfs) Ashton and Paisley. Great-great -grandchildren: (Laceyfs) Drason and Daxton. He enjoyed family celebrations and any reason to get the family together. Having company over made his day. He and Marina were always the best hosts. He was always the life of the party with his quick humor and his sometimes unbelievable stories.
He had a long and happy life that we should all hope to have. We will miss you.
Loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great great-grandfather, brother, and friend passed away June 16, 2014. He was born Feb. 22, 1921 in Montpelier. He was the first son to Macy and Marvin Sparks. Jay graduated from high school in 1940 in Montpelier. He was a four year letterman in boxing and track.
After graduation he enlisted in the Air Force in Salt Lake City. He was assigned to the 17th Bomb Group in Tacoma, Wash., (which was the group that bombed Tokyo, with B-25Œs flown off an aircraft carrier). This was under Colonel Jimmy Doolittles plan. He was proud of the Air Force and even prouder to have served. He was promoted to Master Sgt and later as 1st Sgt of the 475th Bomb Squadron at the age of 22. He retired from the Air Force in 1963 as a Senior Master Sgt and World War II Veteran. After that, Jay spent one year in civil services as an Assistant Commissary Officer. Due to his fatherfs declining health, Jay resigned his commission and returned to Montpelier in 1965.
He went to work as a sales supervisor for Allen Foods, a larger company out of St. Louis, Mo. He called upon military bases, state institutions, schools and colleges in Idaho, Mont., and Wyo. He worked for Allen Foods for 16 years.
Jay married Emma Lou Walker in Shreiveport, La., in 1942. By this union they had three children; Barry, Gloria, and Deanna. They later divorced in 1965.
He married Marina Pugmire in 1978. From this union he gained two beautiful step daughters that he considered his own, Frances Cook and Donna Bienz. He also enjoyed the other members of the Pugmire family; Steve, Rex, Reed, and Terry. Marina and Jay enjoyed life and good health. They enjoyed many vacations together in Mexico, Bahamas, California, and Florida, just to name a few. Marina and Jay spent several years as snowbirds going to Yuma, Ariz. in the winters. Jay was a member of the LDS church. He belonged to the VFW and other military organizations. He enjoyed fly fishing and hunting with one of his best friends, Don Kunz. He also enjoyed all sports and would watch them all on T.V. but what he really enjoyed was watching his grandchildren and even great-grandchildren playing sports. There wasnft a sport Jay didnft love! He was preceded in death by his parents, his only brother Therald, sister Fern, daughter Gloria Sparks Gray and grandchildren; Jerry Bienz and Jared Larson.
Jayfs grandchildren are Tricia (Cook)Poulsen, Deana Cook, JB Bienz, Jordan Bienz, Hope Morales, Joni (Larson) Gould, Mallory (Larson) Neill, Steffan Larson, Bert Sparks, Kadina Adell (Sparks) Bardsley, Kelsey (Sparks) King, Marcus Colbus jr., John Colbus and Jeffery Lynn Sparks. Great grandchildren: (Triciafs) Lacey, Hailey, Courtney and Shayden, (Deanafs) Tristan and Trever, (Adellfs) JJ and Jasmine, (Jonifs) Samantha, Brighton, and Claire and (Malloryfs) Ashton and Paisley. Great-great -grandchildren: (Laceyfs) Drason and Daxton. He enjoyed family celebrations and any reason to get the family together. Having company over made his day. He and Marina were always the best hosts. He was always the life of the party with his quick humor and his sometimes unbelievable stories.
He had a long and happy life that we should all hope to have. We will miss you.
After graduation he enlisted in the Air Force in Salt Lake City. He was assigned to the 17th Bomb Group in Tacoma, Wash., (which was the group that bombed Tokyo, with B-25Œs flown off an aircraft carrier). This was under Colonel Jimmy Doolittles plan. He was proud of the Air Force and even prouder to have served. He was promoted to Master Sgt and later as 1st Sgt of the 475th Bomb Squadron at the age of 22. He retired from the Air Force in 1963 as a Senior Master Sgt and World War II Veteran. After that, Jay spent one year in civil services as an Assistant Commissary Officer. Due to his fatherfs declining health, Jay resigned his commission and returned to Montpelier in 1965.
He went to work as a sales supervisor for Allen Foods, a larger company out of St. Louis, Mo. He called upon military bases, state institutions, schools and colleges in Idaho, Mont., and Wyo. He worked for Allen Foods for 16 years.
Jay married Emma Lou Walker in Shreiveport, La., in 1942. By this union they had three children; Barry, Gloria, and Deanna. They later divorced in 1965.
He married Marina Pugmire in 1978. From this union he gained two beautiful step daughters that he considered his own, Frances Cook and Donna Bienz. He also enjoyed the other members of the Pugmire family; Steve, Rex, Reed, and Terry. Marina and Jay enjoyed life and good health. They enjoyed many vacations together in Mexico, Bahamas, California, and Florida, just to name a few. Marina and Jay spent several years as snowbirds going to Yuma, Ariz. in the winters. Jay was a member of the LDS church. He belonged to the VFW and other military organizations. He enjoyed fly fishing and hunting with one of his best friends, Don Kunz. He also enjoyed all sports and would watch them all on T.V. but what he really enjoyed was watching his grandchildren and even great-grandchildren playing sports. There wasnft a sport Jay didnft love! He was preceded in death by his parents, his only brother Therald, sister Fern, daughter Gloria Sparks Gray and grandchildren; Jerry Bienz and Jared Larson.
Jayfs grandchildren are Tricia (Cook)Poulsen, Deana Cook, JB Bienz, Jordan Bienz, Hope Morales, Joni (Larson) Gould, Mallory (Larson) Neill, Steffan Larson, Bert Sparks, Kadina Adell (Sparks) Bardsley, Kelsey (Sparks) King, Marcus Colbus jr., John Colbus and Jeffery Lynn Sparks. Great grandchildren: (Triciafs) Lacey, Hailey, Courtney and Shayden, (Deanafs) Tristan and Trever, (Adellfs) JJ and Jasmine, (Jonifs) Samantha, Brighton, and Claire and (Malloryfs) Ashton and Paisley. Great-great -grandchildren: (Laceyfs) Drason and Daxton. He enjoyed family celebrations and any reason to get the family together. Having company over made his day. He and Marina were always the best hosts. He was always the life of the party with his quick humor and his sometimes unbelievable stories.
He had a long and happy life that we should all hope to have. We will miss you.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
