Arnold Ray Sparks, age 78 of Marion, passed away on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at Marion General Hospital.
He was born to the late Charlie and Mary (Spillman) Sparks on March 19, 1934 in Waterloo, OH.
On March 27, 1953, he married Clara J. Mitchell.
Arnold attended Marion Harding High School and also Marion Technical College.
Arnold worked for 20 years at Tecumseh Products until it closed, and retired as a Tool Grinder from Steam Turbin Alternative Resources.
He dearly loved his grandkids, was of the Pentecostal faith, was an avid NASCAR fan, and loved playing the mandolin.
Arnold is survived by his wife, Clara Sparks, 3 children; Pamela Hanshaw, Judith (Tony) Zwolle, and Timothy (Amy) Sparks, all of Marion, 7 grandchildren; Jason Edmister, Kristina Dunn, Brandy Gatrell, Jeremy Morgan, Melissa Bosart, Tori Sparks, and Tyler Sparks, 10 great-grandchildren and 5 step grandchildren, as well as 2 sisters, Edith (Ray) Mitchell of Houston, TX, and Lillian (Bill) Mitchell of Marion. Besides his parents, Arnold was preceded in death by 3 sisters, 5 brothers, and a granddaughter, Jennifer Edmister.
The family will greet guests on Sunday, November 18, 2012 from 5-9 PM at the Boyd-Born Funeral Home. Services for Arnold will be held on Monday, November 19, 2012 at 1 PM at the Pentecostal Believers in Christ Church on N. Main St. in Marion. Presiding will be Rev. Clifford Hall. Internment will immediately follow at Grand Prairie Cemetery.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.boydbornfuneralhome.com.
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