Obituary of Helen Pauline Sparks

Helen Pauline Sparks, 91, the daughter of Jesse Pearl and Georgia M. (Shaw) Rutledge, was born December 30, 1916 in Newton, Iowa. She graduated from the Newton Senior High School with the Class of 1935. Helen was united in marriage to Ralph Clair Sparks on May 31, 1936 in Sterling, Illinois. She and Clair had lived in Boone, Iowa 33 years, moving back to Newton in 1986. They had wintered in Arizona. Helen was employed as Deputy Clerk of Courts, from 1955 until 1978, for Boone County, Iowa. Helen, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, loved spending time with her family and friends. Her interests included gardening, cooking, fishing, bowling and traveling with Clair. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Boone American Legion Auxiliary Post #0056. Helen went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, February 13, 2008, at Careage of Newton. She was preceded in death by her parents, a son Jerry; her husband, Clair on March 24, 2006; sister Virginia Tilton; brother Keith Rutledge; and sister-in-law Lorene Stotts. Those left to honor Helen's memory include her sons and daughters-in-law: Kenneth (Marge) Sparks of Roseville, California and Terry (Sue) Sparks of Burnsville, Minnesota; four grandchildren: Kimberly, Kevin, Tracy and Lori; three great-grandchildren: Kasey, Grant and Katie; cousin Thayis Breckenridge of Leon, Iowa; several nieces and nephews; and her many good neighbors and friends.