Robert Charles “Bob” Sparks, 76, died Aug. 25 at Missouri Veterans Home in Cameron, Mo. Born Feb. 7, 1937 in Oklahoma City, Okla., he was the son of Lee and Audrey (Kennedy) Sparks. On Dec. 20, 1959 he married Ellen Ora “Punky” Ford in Great Bend. She died on March 22, 2011. A resident of Cameron, Mo. since 2011, coming from Great Bend, he was Territory Manager for Eco Lab and was previously employed at Marlette Homes and Liberty Homes.
Mr. Sparks was a United States Navy veteran, serving during the Vietnam Conflict. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3111, Panther Booster Club, Lake Barton Golf Club, and Great Bend American Legion Baseball.
Survivors include one son, Danny Sparks and his wife Michelle of Norman, Okla.; one daughter, Sherri Steinert of Kearney, Mo.; and two granddaughters, Kayla Sparks of Manhattan, and Mindy Steinert of Liberty, Mo. He was preceded in death by one brother, Jimmie Lee Sparks.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday at the First Southern Baptist Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Dr. Doyle Smith officiating. Burial will be at the Great Bend Cemetery, with military rites by the United States Navy Honor Guard. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, and from 9 a.m. to noon, on Thursday, at Bryant Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Alzheimer’s Association or Great Bend Senior Center, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net;
                      
Funeral arrangements provided by    
Bryant Funeral Home*         
1425 Patton Road       
Great Bend, Ks. 67530
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, August 27, 2013