Donald Richard Sparrow

Rockville Maryland, passed away on June 11th, 2020 at his

residence.

Don was born in 1928 in Washington DC to Fredrick Sr. and Lilian

(Dove) Sparrow. Don grew up on Massachusetts Ave in

Southeast Washington DC, and graduated from Eastern High

School.

In December of 1950 Don entered the Army and was

deployed to Korea. Don was assigned to Company “C," 23rd

Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division.

In September of 1951, while engaged in heavy fighting near Pia-ri

Korea at “Heart Break Ridge," Don suffered severe injuries. Don

was brought back to the US and endured months of surgeries and

treatments at Army Hospitals. He was awarded a Purple Heart

and a Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars for his service.

Ultimately Don was retired from the Army as a Disabled Veteran.

After returning from Korea he met a beautiful girl named Mary Jo

(Hollar) from Cumberland, MD. They married on January 21st,

1956 at Holy Comforter Church in DC. Don worked for Monroe

Business Machines from 1953 until retiring some 30 years later.

Don is survived by his two sons, Tom of Locust Grove Georgia,

and Tim and his wife Marion of Bradenton, FL, two grandchildren,

two great grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces. He was

preceded in death by his wife Mary Jo, his older brother Fredrick

Jr., and his parents.

Don was also known to many friends and neighbors as “Uncle

Don” and also “Bird”. Don’s hobbies included fishing, crabbing,

going to Ocean City, electronic repair, and model ship building. He

was active with the churches, both Our Lady of Sorrows (Takoma

Park, MD) and later St Judes (Rockville MD). Don served as an

usher for many years and later as a Eucharistic Minister at St

Judes.

There will be a graveside service for family at the Gate of Heaven

Cemetery in Aspen MD, a later date. In Lieu of flowers donations

may be dedicated in his honor to the Disabled American

Veterans, at dav.org.