Thomas Jefferson Sparkes, Jr. |
| Posted 2019-01-27 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Prescott Evening Courier, Prescott, Arizona Friday, September 1, 1944, page 1.5 & 2.2 Thomas Sparkes Passes Away At Whipple Thomas Jefferson Sparkes, a veteran of World War I, died last night, about 10:30 at Fort Whipple, where his illness took a more serious turn just recently. He was very well known in Prescott and throughout the state, where he had been active since his arrival in 1904. He was 58 years of age. Tom Sparkes was born on June 28, 1886, in Lead, South Dakota. He was identified with his father, the late T. J. Sparkes, for many years in mining in the Black Hills of Dakota and the Yukon territory; when they came to Arizona he and his father mined at Castle Creek. In World War I Sparkes volunteered, and saw much active service in France. His health broke after drinking polluted water, and he was for a time in a German hospital. Two of his four sons are in the present war - Thomas F. Sparkes, a signalman, 3rd class, in the Navy, with service in the Pacific, and Technical Sergeant, Charles J. Sparkes, who was in the first shuttle mission of American flyers to Russia. A third son, Jack, who was in a tank accident while in officers training, is now working for the Greyhound company. His youngest boy, William Jared, eight years old lives here. Of late years, Tom Sparkes had been employed in various ways. He was connected at one time with the water department in Prescott, and had also been an employee of the state. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion, and he was an honorary member of the Phoenix Fire Department. The deceased leaves two sisters, Mrs. Perry L. Bones and Miss Grace Sparkes, secretary of Yavapai Association; also, Mrs. Genevieve Sparkes, sister-in-law, who teaches in Skull Valley. It is expected that the funeral service will be held at Sacred Heart Church, and the arrangements are in charge of the Lester Ruffner Funeral Home. -------------------------------------------- Prescott Evening Courier, Prescott, Arizona Tuesday, September 5, 1944, page 2.7 Set Funeral Rite For Tom Sparkes Funeral services for Thomas J. Sparkes will be held tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock at the Sacred Heart church. Interment will be in the family plot in Mountain View. The Rosary will be recited tonight at the Ruffner Funeral Home at 8 o'clock. Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend those services. Sparkes was a veteran of World War I. He was with the American Expeditionary Forces and saw action at Chateau-Thierry, Soisson Front, Alsace Seetor, Aisne-Marne-Oise Aisne and the Meuse-Argonne offensives. Two of his sons in active service, Sparkes followed this war with intense interest to the day of his death, living again activities he participated in over there. Sparks was well and favorably known throughout Arizona and at Whipple he had become endeared to all who knew him, bearing with fortitude and patience the strain of his severe illness. See Also: Arizona Gravestone Photo Project |
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