Earl Louis Sparks

To view Earl's memorial video, please CLICK HEREEarl Louis Sparks, 82, of Elm Street, died at 6:50 p.m. Monday, June 5, 2017, at Columbus Regional Hospital. Earl was born Jan. 12, 1935, in Brookville, Indiana, the son of Lloyd and Mable Hellard Sparks. He married Patricia June Warner Oct. 28, 1978. He was previously employed at REMC and retired from Northrop Grumman as an electrician. He also retired from the U.S. Army after 27 years of service. Earl was a member of Flintwood Wesleyan Church and the American Legion. He enjoyed watching sports, doing yard work and gardening. He was an avid fisherman and loved spending time with his wife. The funeral will be at noon Thursday, June 8, 2017, at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home with the Rev. Wes Jones officiating. Calling will be from 10 a.m. until time of service Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery with military rites performed by the Bartholomew County Veterans Honor Guard. Memorials may be made to the Flintwood Wesleyan Church through the funeral home. Survivors include his wife; sons, Kevin Earl (Laura) Sparks of Milton, Kentucky, James R. (Patricia) Carnahan Jr. of Seymour and Thomas D. (Mechelle) Carnahan of North Vernon; daughter, Verna Mae (David) McCulloch of Columbus; a sister, Naomi Pennington; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Sheila Jane McNeeley; several brothers and sisters; and one grandchild.