William E. "Bill" Sparkman Jr.

WILLIAM E. "BILL" SPARKMAN, Jr., 51

LONDON, KY. - William E. "Bill" Sparkman, Jr., age 51, died September 12, 2009 in Clay County, KY.
Bill was born in Bartow, Fl. on August 12, 1958. Bill was a native of Mulberry, Fl. who delighted in working & teaching young people of all ages. Bill completed 12 years of his education at the Mulberry Schools and while he was in high school he completed courses in calculus at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fl. In his freshman year at Vanderbilt University he was also a manager for the football team. Bill returned to Florida for his other college years at University of South Florida.
Bill's career path began as a sports editor of the Mulberry Press, his hometown newspaper. Bill was also the sports reporter, sports photographer, sports layout and even delivered papers to circulation boxes around town. Bill was also spending his summers at Boy Scout Camp where as an Eagle Scout, Bill served 3 summers as the ecology director and 2 summers as program director. Bill then decided to enter the ranks of professional Scouting serving 12 years in several councils including a 3 year stint as the Associate National Director of the Order of the Arrow in Texas. Bill eventually moved to London, KY.
In the beginning, he worked as a Scout Leader, but then became interested in education. At Johnson Elementary he became a volunteer and then an Instructional Assistant. Bill did that job for 9 years as well as an after school program.
Bill entered Western Governors University on the Internet while doing census work for the Federal Government, being an instructional assistant and involved in an after school program. Bill received his degree to teach middle school math in 2008 while battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Bill's words concerning his cancer were "I have been knocked down, but I refuse to be knocked out."
As a guest speaker at his graduation at WGU in Salt Lake City, Utah he said, "Those brick walls will appear from time to time in your career. Do not let them stop you! There are no failures, just teaching moments. As Thomas Edison once said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
Bill did his internship at a school in London and after receiving his degree he substituted in Laurel County while being interviewed for a permanent teaching position. Bill continued his census work and after school programs. With all this he still continued to call all the people at Johnson Elementary his "school family".
Bill was preceded in death by his father William E. Sparkman, Sr. Bill is survived by his mother Henrie, brothers Dr. Thomas K. Sparkman and Jonathan C. Sparkman, niece, Natalie Ann Sparkman and nephew Jonathan C. Sparkman and son Joshua William Sparkman.
Memorial services will be held Saturday November 7, 2009 @ 11 00 A.M. at Mulberry United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Wildwood Cemetery in Bartow. OUT OF RESPECT BILL'S MOTHER REQUESTS NO MEDIA COVERAGE! PLEASE!
Arrangements entrusted to Seigler Funeral Home- Mulberry, Fl.