William Junior Sparkman

February 10, 1930-July 9, 2009 William J. Sparkman passed away unexpectedly on July 9, 2009, at his beloved Lake Tahoe home. Bill (Sparky) Sparkman was born February 10, 1930, in Santa Rita, NM, to William Sparkman and Effie Jackson. The family moved to Ajo, Ariz. 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 went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Oklahoma, and later a Masters Degree from the University of California in research and development systems management. During his 27 ½ years of distinguished military service he was awarde the National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the 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 eleven years. Bill and Dona were married 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, Japan. While at VAFB, he was active in the community, serving on the vestry of St. Mary's Church, along with participating in his favorite recreational pastime, softball. He played the game wherever he was stationed, and when he retired his family had the glove he had used since high school bronzed. In 1991, his beloved wife, Dona passed away 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, Calif. 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! Col. William Junior Sparkman 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 are the things that mattered most in life. William J. Sparkman is survived by his wife, Sara Sparkman; his sons, Larry Sparkman of Tallahassee, Fla., Gary Sparkman of Vero Beach, Fla., and Glen Sparkman of Lake Dallas, Texas; his step-sons, Michael Cotten of Mentone, Calif. and David Cotten of Colorado Springs, Colo.; ten grandchildren, Lisa, Scott, Melissa, Jennifer, Rikki, Cody, Brandy, Christopher, Tyler, and Nichelle Sparkman; three step-grandchildren, Kacey, Kyle, and Mackenzie Cotton; four great-grandchildren; two aunts, Lucille Jackson and Ailene Gossett; a brother-in-law, Ray Williams; and a nephew, David Williams. A Memorial Service with Full Military Honors, followed by a reception, will be held at 4:00 PM, Tues., August 11, 2009 at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, located at 2800 Harris Grade Road, Lompoc, CA. For directions please call 805-733-4400. On Fri., Aug. 14, 2009 there will be a private scattering of the ashes at Lake Tahoe. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Living Desert in the name of William "Sparky" Sparkman Memorial Fund, 47-900 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert, CA, 92260. Phone 760-346-5694.