Nowata Star
126 E. Cherokee St.
Nowata, OK 74048
December 13, 2000
Permission for archiving obituaries given by Phillip Reid, Publisher

Funeral services for William James Sparkman, 83, of Nowata who died Tuesday, December 5, 2000 at Jane Phillips Nowata Health Center was held Friday, December 8 at Benjamin Funeral Chapel with the Reverend Bob Morris officiating. Interment followed at Nowata Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Benjamin Funeral Service in Nowata.

Bill was born in Nowata County on May 30, 1917 the son of Charles Anderson and Hattie May Inman Sparkman. He grew up at Nowata and received his education in the Nowata Schools. He was in a CC Camp and then entered the Army during World War 2. Bill served in Luzon and Layte in the Phillipines.

Mr. Sparkman returned to Nowata after the War and went to work for Continental Oil Co. On August 15, 1950, he and Maxine L. Eden were married at Bentonville, Arkansas. Bill was a pipeline inspector for Continental and worked at a number of places around the country including Ponca City; Lincoln, Nebraska; Spokane, Washington and Dixon, Illinois where he lived for 20 years. Mr. and Mrs. Sparkman returned to Nowata in 1979 after 35 years with Continental.

Mr. Sparkman was of the Baptist faith. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, DAV and the Moose Lodge at Bartlesville.

Mr. Sparkman is survived by his wife Maxine Sparkman of the home; one brother: Alvin A. Sparkman of Grove; a nephew, Charles A Sparkman and his wife Donna of Freemont, California and a great niece: Chelsea Sparkman also of Freemont.

He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Alice Joyce Sparkman and by seven brothers and two sisters.