Howard Frank ("Sparky" or "Spud") Sparks, from Virginia Beach, VA and moved to Raleigh, NC in January 2020. Sparky passed away on January 30, 2021 with his loving wife of 62 years, Irene "Renie" Sparks, by his side for the entire battle. Sparky bravely fought Alzheimer's for the past thirteen years with the loving and unyielding support of his loving wife and family.
Sparky was born in Matoaka, West Virginia, on October 13, 1937. He was raised in Bluefield, West Virginia until he enlisted in the Navy in 1955 at age 17, where he proudly served his country for 24 years. He served as a Radioman, following his officer commission, a Communications Officer on various diesel and nuclear attack submarines, retiring as Lieutenant Commander. Following a distinguished military career, he moved to Virginia Beach, VA to open an office for Sonalysts Inc. Shortly thereafter, he co-founded Integrated Systems Control (ISC), an international defense contractor business, specializing in ship- and submarine-board satellite communications systems with its headquarters in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
He will be remembered for his honesty, charisma, selflessness, intelligence, hard work, quick wit, and humor by all who knew him. He had a gift of making you want to be a better person and work harder, with the ability to make those around him love life more for simply having been in the same room. He enjoyed traveling, visiting friends and family, church, and was an avid and fiercely competitive tennis player, winning many titles in the Senior Olympic games. He was known by many for his timely line calls, usually in his favorâ€"haha. Sparky was a devoted family man and instant friend to all he met. He will be remembered by his family for his love and devotion to them.
He is preceded in death by his mom Catherine and husband Martin Berube, father Frank Sparks and wife Francis Sparks, sister Shelby Hauser, brother in-law Karl Jahn, and step sister Debbie Sparks.
He is survived by his wife, Renie, his four children - Frank Sparks and wife Sharon, Jan Sparks, Tom Sparks and wife Kelly, and Marsha Massey; six grandchildren - Bryce Sparks and wife Aimee, Kyle Sparks, Haley Sparks, Codi Chalkley and husband Shepard, Randi Sparks, and Hunter Massey; three sisters - Nita Schaefer and husband Bill, Shirly Jahn, Nancy Ridenour and husband Bill; brother-in law Gus Hauser; step brothers and sisters - Jimmy Sparks, Nick Sparks, and Maria Sparks.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Alzheimer's Association and/or Operation Smile.
The celebration of Sparky's life will take place in Virginia Beach, VA in the spring/summer of 2021. We will communicate details once plans have been formalized.
Renie and the entire family, wish to extend our sincere thanks for all your friendship through the years. Sparky, as well as our entire family, are better people because of you.
Condolences may be sent through www.BrownWynneEastMillbrook.com
To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published in The Virginian-Pilot on Feb. 12, 2021.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pilotonline/obituary.aspx?n=howard-frank-sparks&pid=197740244&fhid=10727
*******
Sparky was born in Matoaka, West Virginia, on October 13, 1937. He was raised in Bluefield, West Virginia until he enlisted in the Navy in 1955 at age 17, where he proudly served his country for 24 years. He served as a Radioman, following his officer commission, a Communications Officer on various diesel and nuclear attack submarines, retiring as Lieutenant Commander. Following a distinguished military career, he moved to Virginia Beach, VA to open an office for Sonalysts Inc. Shortly thereafter, he co-founded Integrated Systems Control (ISC), an international defense contractor business, specializing in ship- and submarine-board satellite communications systems with its headquarters in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
He will be remembered for his honesty, charisma, selflessness, intelligence, hard work, quick wit, and humor by all who knew him. He had a gift of making you want to be a better person and work harder, with the ability to make those around him love life more for simply having been in the same room. He enjoyed traveling, visiting friends and family, church, and was an avid and fiercely competitive tennis player, winning many titles in the Senior Olympic games. He was known by many for his timely line calls, usually in his favorâ€"haha. Sparky was a devoted family man and instant friend to all he met. He will be remembered by his family for his love and devotion to them.
He is preceded in death by his mom Catherine and husband Martin Berube, father Frank Sparks and wife Francis Sparks, sister Shelby Hauser, brother in-law Karl Jahn, and step sister Debbie Sparks.
He is survived by his wife, Renie, his four children - Frank Sparks and wife Sharon, Jan Sparks, Tom Sparks and wife Kelly, and Marsha Massey; six grandchildren - Bryce Sparks and wife Aimee, Kyle Sparks, Haley Sparks, Codi Chalkley and husband Shepard, Randi Sparks, and Hunter Massey; three sisters - Nita Schaefer and husband Bill, Shirly Jahn, Nancy Ridenour and husband Bill; brother-in law Gus Hauser; step brothers and sisters - Jimmy Sparks, Nick Sparks, and Maria Sparks.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Alzheimer's Association and/or Operation Smile.
The celebration of Sparky's life will take place in Virginia Beach, VA in the spring/summer of 2021. We will communicate details once plans have been formalized.
Renie and the entire family, wish to extend our sincere thanks for all your friendship through the years. Sparky, as well as our entire family, are better people because of you.
Condolences may be sent through www.BrownWynneEastMillbrook.com
To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published in The Virginian-Pilot on Feb. 12, 2021.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pilotonline/obituary.aspx?n=howard-frank-sparks&pid=197740244&fhid=10727
*******
Howard Frank ("Sparky" or "Spud") Sparks, from Virginia Beach, VA and moved to Raleigh, NC in January 2020. Sparky passed away on January 30, 2021 with his loving wife of 62 years, Irene "Renie" Sparks, by his side for the entire battle. Sparky bravely fought Alzheimer's for the past thirteen years with the loving and unyielding support of his loving wife and family.
Sparky was born in Matoaka, West Virginia, on October 13, 1937. He was raised in Bluefield, West Virginia until he enlisted in the Navy in 1955 at age 17, where he proudly served his country for 24 years. He served as a Radioman, following his officer commission, a Communications Officer on various diesel and nuclear attack submarines, retiring as Lieutenant Commander. Following a distinguished military career, he moved to Virginia Beach, VA to open an office for Sonalysts Inc. Shortly thereafter, he co-founded Integrated Systems Control (ISC), an international defense contractor business, specializing in ship- and submarine-board satellite communications systems with its headquarters in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
He will be remembered for his honesty, charisma, selflessness, intelligence, hard work, quick wit, and humor by all who knew him. He had a gift of making you want to be a better person and work harder, with the ability to make those around him love life more for simply having been in the same room. He enjoyed traveling, visiting friends and family, church, and was an avid and fiercely competitive tennis player, winning many titles in the Senior Olympic games. He was known by many for his timely line calls, usually in his favorâ€"haha. Sparky was a devoted family man and instant friend to all he met. He will be remembered by his family for his love and devotion to them.
He is preceded in death by his mom Catherine and husband Martin Berube, father Frank Sparks and wife Francis Sparks, sister Shelby Hauser, brother in-law Karl Jahn, and step sister Debbie Sparks.
He is survived by his wife, Renie, his four children - Frank Sparks and wife Sharon, Jan Sparks, Tom Sparks and wife Kelly, and Marsha Massey; six grandchildren - Bryce Sparks and wife Aimee, Kyle Sparks, Haley Sparks, Codi Chalkley and husband Shepard, Randi Sparks, and Hunter Massey; three sisters - Nita Schaefer and husband Bill, Shirly Jahn, Nancy Ridenour and husband Bill; brother-in law Gus Hauser; step brothers and sisters - Jimmy Sparks, Nick Sparks, and Maria Sparks.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Alzheimer's Association and/or Operation Smile.
The celebration of Sparky's life will take place in Virginia Beach, VA in the spring/summer of 2021. We will communicate details once plans have been formalized.
Renie and the entire family, wish to extend our sincere thanks for all your friendship through the years. Sparky, as well as our entire family, are better people because of you.
Condolences may be sent through www.BrownWynneEastMillbrook.com
To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published in The Virginian-Pilot on Feb. 12, 2021.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pilotonline/obituary.aspx?n=howard-frank-sparks&pid=197740244&fhid=10727
*******
Sparky was born in Matoaka, West Virginia, on October 13, 1937. He was raised in Bluefield, West Virginia until he enlisted in the Navy in 1955 at age 17, where he proudly served his country for 24 years. He served as a Radioman, following his officer commission, a Communications Officer on various diesel and nuclear attack submarines, retiring as Lieutenant Commander. Following a distinguished military career, he moved to Virginia Beach, VA to open an office for Sonalysts Inc. Shortly thereafter, he co-founded Integrated Systems Control (ISC), an international defense contractor business, specializing in ship- and submarine-board satellite communications systems with its headquarters in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
He will be remembered for his honesty, charisma, selflessness, intelligence, hard work, quick wit, and humor by all who knew him. He had a gift of making you want to be a better person and work harder, with the ability to make those around him love life more for simply having been in the same room. He enjoyed traveling, visiting friends and family, church, and was an avid and fiercely competitive tennis player, winning many titles in the Senior Olympic games. He was known by many for his timely line calls, usually in his favorâ€"haha. Sparky was a devoted family man and instant friend to all he met. He will be remembered by his family for his love and devotion to them.
He is preceded in death by his mom Catherine and husband Martin Berube, father Frank Sparks and wife Francis Sparks, sister Shelby Hauser, brother in-law Karl Jahn, and step sister Debbie Sparks.
He is survived by his wife, Renie, his four children - Frank Sparks and wife Sharon, Jan Sparks, Tom Sparks and wife Kelly, and Marsha Massey; six grandchildren - Bryce Sparks and wife Aimee, Kyle Sparks, Haley Sparks, Codi Chalkley and husband Shepard, Randi Sparks, and Hunter Massey; three sisters - Nita Schaefer and husband Bill, Shirly Jahn, Nancy Ridenour and husband Bill; brother-in law Gus Hauser; step brothers and sisters - Jimmy Sparks, Nick Sparks, and Maria Sparks.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Alzheimer's Association and/or Operation Smile.
The celebration of Sparky's life will take place in Virginia Beach, VA in the spring/summer of 2021. We will communicate details once plans have been formalized.
Renie and the entire family, wish to extend our sincere thanks for all your friendship through the years. Sparky, as well as our entire family, are better people because of you.
Condolences may be sent through www.BrownWynneEastMillbrook.com
To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published in The Virginian-Pilot on Feb. 12, 2021.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pilotonline/obituary.aspx?n=howard-frank-sparks&pid=197740244&fhid=10727
*******
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
