Thomas F. Sparks

Thomas F. Sparks, Jr.
Lifelong resident of Lowell, WWII Vet; 89

LOWELL -- Thomas F. Sparks, Jr., 89, of Lowell, died Thursday, May 17, 2012, at the Edith Nourse Rogers Veterans Hospital in Bedford, after a long illness.

He was the husband of Ruth (Cahill) Sparks.

A son of the late Thomas F. and the late Veronica (Condrey) Sparks, he was born December 15, 1922 in Lowell, and was educated in the local schools, graduating from Lowell High School, Class of 1940.

After graduating, Mr. Sparks served with the 1884th Engineer Aviation Battalion, United States Army during World War II in the Asiatic Pacific Theater.

An avid baseball player, he was chosen to be a member of the Air Corps traveling baseball team entertaining the troops throughout the Pacific Islands.

He was a lifelong resident of Lowell. He worked for the Courier-Citizen for many years, and then traveled as an International Union Representative for the Electrotypers Union throughout the United States. In his later years, he represented many City of Lowell employees, as well as nursing professionals as a union representative.

Besides his wife, Ruth, he is survived by his children, Suzanne McArdle and her husband, Donald, of Osterville, MA, Sharon Martin and her husband, Kenneth, of Lowell, and Timothy J. Sparks of Lowell; his step sons, Carl Cahill and his wife, Nancy of Haverhill, John Cahill of Haverhill, and Sean Cahill of Meredith, NH. He is the grandfather of Donald, Christopher, and Jeffrey McArdle, Kenneth, Timothy and Patrick Martin, Ryan Sparks, Christopher, Stephanie, and Tyler Cahill; great-grandfather of Emma, Hannah, Olive and Trey Martin. He leaves his sister, Catherine Lospennato and her husband, Frederick, of Chelmsford; as well as several cousins.

He was the father of the late Thomas F. Sparks III who died in 2004, and brother of the late Anne. L. Hogan.

SPARKS -- CALLING HOURS ARE 2 UNTIL 6 P.M. ON SUNDAY, MAY 20. ON MONDAY, HIS FUNERAL WILL BEGIN AT 9 A.M. AT THE MAHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 187 NESMITH STREET, LOWELL, 978-452-6361. HIS FUNERAL MASS WILL BE OFFERED AT IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, 144 EAST MERRIMACK ST., LOWELL AT 10 A.M. BURIAL IN ST. PATRICK CEMETERY. E-CONDOLENCE -- MAHONEYFUNERALHOME.COM