Elizabeth (Betty) Ann Sparks

Lake City, Florida, formerly of Des Moines

Betty Ann (Meloan) Sparks, 87, passed away Thursday, July 14, 2016 in Lake City, Florida. A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Friday at RockPower Church in Des Moines, Iowa with Pastor Ron Brammer officiating.

Betty, daughter of Patrick and Helen Meloan was born on January 8, 1929 in her grandfather’s bedroom in Clarksville, Tennessee. She grew up in Bowling Green, Kentucky and graduated from Atherton High School; an all-girls high school in Louisville, Kentucky. After high school she attended the University of Kentucky where she was pledged to Chi Omega Sorority. After one year she transferred to the University of Louisville after her mom became ill. She was there one year and went on to the George Peabody Teachers College in Nashville, Tennessee where she graduated in 1950.

Betty went on to teach kindergarten in Fort Knox, Kentucky where she met her future husband: Claude Sparks, Jr. (Sparky) who was a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army. Betty and Sparky were married on December 15, 1956 in Ypsilanti, Michigan where they resided for three years. Sparky was next stationed in Rock Island, Illinois for three years and then Korea where he trained troops for battle, and then later Heidelberg, Germany for three years.

In 1968 Lt. Colonel Sparks and Betty came back to the states and decided to make their home and bring up their four children in Des Moines, Iowa. Sparky worked at Delavan Manufacturing while Betty filled her days with taking care of their children and doing some volunteer work. Betty enjoyed reading, playing golf and belonged to several prayer groups. She had been the head counselor for the 700 Club; a job she enjoyed very much.

She is survived by her sister, Julia (Devlon) Kennedy in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania; brother, Michael Meloan in Gaffney, South Carolina; her children, Julia (Scott) Kennedy, Charles (Sandi) Sparks, Patrick (Vicki) Sparks, and Elizabeth (Lawton) Unrau; 16 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; and countless good friends. Betty was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

In lieu of flowers Betty asked that memorial contributions be made to RockPower Church.