Colonel William Junior Sparkman

COLONEL WILLIAM JUNIOR SPARKMAN
February 10, 1930 - July 9, 2009
William J. Sparkman died unexpectedly on July 9, 2009, at his beloved Lake Tahoe home. Bill "Sparky" Sparkman was born February 10, 1930, in Santa Rita, New Mexico, to William Sparkman and Effie Jackson Sparkman. The family moved to Ajo, Arizona where he and his sister, Wanda, grew up. Bill graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture. In February, 1954, he joined the United States Air Force. Under the Air Force Institute of Technology program, he earned a second Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Oklahoma, and later a Master's degree from the University of Southern California in research and development systems management. During his 27 1/2 years of distinguished military service he was awarded: the National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Legion of Merit. During his years at Vandenberg Air Force Base he was Commander of the 6595th Aerospace Test Wing and subsequently Vice Commander of the Space and Missile Test Organization. He was involved in over 160 unmanned launches. He retired from the Air Force as a Colonel in 1981. He continued working for Martin Marietta for an additional 11 years.
Bill married Dona McDaniel in 1952, and had three sons, Larry, Gary and Glen. While in the Air Force, he and his family were stationed throughout the United States and Okinawa. While at VAFB he was active in the community, serving on the vestry of St. Mary's Episcopal church, along with participating in his favorite recreational pastime, softball. He played the game wherever he was stationed, always using the same glove he had since high school. When he retired his family had the glove bronzed. In 1991, his beloved wife, Dona, died after 39 years of marriage.
In 1992, Sparky retired from Martin Marietta and married a second time to a family friend, Sara Cotten of Rancho Mirage, California. They alternated between homes in Rancho Mirage and Lake Tahoe and were fortunate to travel widely during their 17-year marriage. Sara remembers her husband as a man of many passions, not the least of which was politics. Discussions with Sparky were never dull! He will be remembered as a warm and loving family man and devoted husband. He was a man of unparalleled integrity who never wavered from his belief that family, God and country were the things that mattered most in life.
Col. Sparkman is survived by his wife Sara Sparkman, his sons Larry Sparkman of Tallahassee, Florida, Gary Sparkman of Vero Beach, Florida, Glen Sparkman of Lake Dallas, Texas, his step sons, Michael Cotten of Mentone, California, David Cotten, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, ten grandchildren, Lisa, Scott, Melissa, Jennifer, Rikki, Cody, Brandy, Christopher, Tyler and Nichelle Sparkman, three step grandchildren, Kacey, Kyle and Mackenzie Cotten, four great grandchildren, two aunts, Lucille Jackson and Ailene Gossett, a brother-in-law, Ray Williams, and a nephew, David Williams.