Thelma Margaret (Cook) Sparks was born on January 12, 1932 and raised in Washington, D.C. She was a long time resident of Upper Arlington, Ohio. She passed peacefully on July 12, 2016. She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Dwight; daughters: Gail (Michel) Laurent; Diane Sparks; Brenda (David) Scholl; and Susan (David) Beyerle; grandchildren: Renee (Josh) Crim, Stephanie Scholl, Don Owen, Bridgette (Rob) Langdon, Laura and Matthew Beyerle; great-granddaughter: Elanor Crim; brother in law: Donald (Margaret) Sparks; sister-in-law: Joann Sparks, and niece: Janet (Ollie) Sparks Read. She is predeceased by her grandson, Eric Laurent.
Thelma graduated with degrees in Botany and Zoology from Ohio Wesleyan University. She was a beloved and devoted wife, and best mother in the world. Her interests and activities included: choir, bowling, square dancing, and playing card and board games. She was an avid leisure traveler and an active driver for the Sparks Delivery Service to distribute items among family members. She passed her love of learning to her four daughters and grandchildren. She demonstrated and shared her strong Christian faith and was an active member of Riverside United Methodist Church (youth mentorship, Life Begins, Staff Parish Relations Committee, and other activities). She was a forty-year volunteer for Riverside Methodist Hospital Sewing Guild, long-time NNEMAP volunteer, and Girl Scout Leader.
A memorial service will be on Sept 24 at Riverside Methodist Church, Upper Arlington, Ohio, with a visitation at 10:00 am followed by the service at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations go to: Charity Newsies (charitynewsies.org) 4300 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214 (614-263-4300) or Riverside United Methodist Church (rumcua.com) 2701 Zollinger Road, Upper Arlington, OH 43221 (614-486-5201)