Wallace 'Sonny" Sparks

Wallace “Sonny” Sparks, 94, beloved husband, loving father, grandfather and friend, passed away on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. He was born December 18, 1921 in Wood-Hi, Texas to the late Willie Walter Jackson and Cora Bell McCurry Sparks. He resided in Victoria for 90 years, spending the last 4 years in Houston.

Sonny proudly served in the U.S. Navy, as part of the 14 Victoria Volunteers with his brother, Dale; cousin, Jesse E. Sparks, and friend, Robert C. “Sparky” Wilson. They were part of the Houston Volunteers, group of 1,000 men who volunteered for U.S. Navy service to avenge the loss of Cruiser USS Houston. He served on the USS Wharton, New Caledonia, in the South Pacific and returned to Victoria in 1945. Upon his return, he resumed his career alongside his brothers at C.W. & A., Inc. until his retirement in 1955 with over 50 years of dedicated service. Sonny loved the Coastal Bend Texas history and spent the last 30 years of his life working on his biggest passion - researching the Sparks family ancestry, particularly of Henry S. and Henry Teague Sparks. He was an active member of the Sparks Cemetery restoration group in Pike County, Arkansas and the Western Hills Baptist Church. Sonny was a true friend and will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Paula Hamilton Sparks; sons, Michael Wallace Sparks and wife Julie of Houston and John Robert Burrell and wife Yvonne of Kentucky; daughter, Barbara Ogg of Michigan; grandchildren, Daniel Ogg and wife Joyce of Austin and Nikki Dawson and husband Mike of Houston; great grandchildren, Nikolas, Erin and Heather Dawson, and Arriana Ogg; brother, Calvin Wesley “Cowboy” Sparks; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Sonny was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Paula Marie “Cissy” Lambright; sisters, Nellie Jewel Sparks and Lucille Sparks Bauer; brothers, Willie Warren Sparks, Walter Jackson Sparks, Jr., Allen Sparks, Dale Sparks and Kenneth Ray Sparks.

On Saturday, June 4, 2016, the family will hold a visitation from 12:00 to 2:00 pm, followed by a Celebration of Sonny’s Life at 2:00 pm, Colonial Funeral Home with Rev. Roger Parrish officiating. Burial will follow at the Memorial Park Cemetery. Pallbearers are nephews, Dale Kent Sparks, Jimmy Dale Sparks, Leslie Gayle Sparks, Marcus Allen Sparks, W.J. Sparks, III. Honorary pallbearers are his grandsons and great-nephews.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff and residents at West Oaks Nursing, whom Sonny considered part of his family, as well as to Dr. Kurt Merkelz.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Western Hills Baptist Church, 1076 Raab Rd., Victoria, TX 77904, The Museum of the Coastal Bend (www.museumofthecoastalbend.org) or the Texas Historical Foundation (www.texashistoricalfoundation.org).

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com