Memorial service for Richard Allen Sparks, 78, Day- tona Beach Shores, who went to his heavenly home January 27, 2018, will be held Saturday at 11:00 am at First Baptist
Church of Daytona Beach, 118 Palmetto Ave. downtown with Rev. Paul Dillow officiating. Formerly of Beulah, ND and South Point, OH, Richard was a wonderful, kind and caring husband, father, grandfather and friend and will be missed greatly. Richard was born on July 1, 1939, in Van Lear, KY to Virgie and Woodrow Sparks. Richard loved his Old Ken- tucky Home and cherished the many memo- ries of growing up there. Richard moved to Dayton, OH and eventually ended up in Ironton, OH, where he would graduate from high school. After graduation and before he left for Marine basic training, he took a job in the office at Semet Solvay/Allied Chemical. It was during this time, that he met a man named Elmer Dillow. It was through Elmer's matchmaking, that his daughter Gail would begin writing Richard and eight months lat- er, on May 20, 1961, they would be married. Richard and Gail made their home in South Point, OH, where they raised three children, Allen, Paula and Julie. In 1980, a job in Beu- lah, ND provided them the opportunity for a new adventure. The family moved to ND in 1982, where Richard was responsible for help- ing start the first Coal Gasification Plant in North America. Richard retired in 1999 and he and Gail moved to Daytona Beach Shores, FL. Richard was very active and loved to play ten- nis and pickleball. He treasured his many friends in the tennis community, both in Bis- marck and Daytona Beach. When Richard was 21 years old, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and began a personal relationship with Him. This relationship would be the founda- tion for how he led his life. He loved his church families, whether in South Point, Beu- lah and Daytona Beach and spent countless hours serving God in a variety of capacities. Richard's greatest joy was his family. He espe- cially loved his grandchildren and was their biggest cheerleader in everything they did. Richard most of all loved his "one and only" Gail.
They enjoyed 57 beautiful years together. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Janet and brother Marvin and his son, Allen Sparks. He is survived by his wife Gail, daughter Paula Schumaier and her husband Barry and their daughters, Rachel and Dania of Bismarck, ND and daughter Julie Schlafman and her husband Mike and their children, Leah, Lexi and Parker of Neenah, WI, and granddaugher Hailey Sparks of Mon- rovia, CA. He is also survived by his brother- in-law Paul Dillow and wife Linda of Daytona, and sister-in-law Sandy and husband Leon of South Point, OH, along with many aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins. In lieu of flow- ers, please send memorials to First Bap- tist Church of Daytona Beach, FL, building
fund.

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