Ivery H. Sparks(Sparky), retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant, stepped into eternity January 30, 2021. He was born January 16,1931 in Erwin, Tennessee to Claude Sparks and Virginia Belle Hensley Sparks. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, three brothers, Jack, Oran and Lloyd, and his sister Jean. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Mary, daughter, Joanne (Shidler), and two sons, Bill and Bruce. He also leaves behind seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren with another one on the way.
Ivery started working at age 9 and entered the Air Force at age 15. Over the next twenty years he achieved the rank of Master Sergeant and crew chief on the Douglas DC-4, Gooney Bird B-25 and Convair 440. After retiring from the Air Force, he joined the Transient Alert organization at Patrick Air Force Base where he assisted NASA’s astronauts going to and from the Cape. He next joined NASA as a quality assurance inspector on the space shuttle solid boosters at Kennedy Space Center.
Sparky never met a stranger. He enjoyed singing and playing his guitar, banjo and harmonica whenever the mood hit him. While in his 80’s, he took his talents to nursing homes to lend a note of cheer to the “older” folks. Over the last sixteen years he and Mary enjoyed taking their motor home to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL to visit their many dear friends. He was full of life and will be dearly missed by all. Sparky leaves his family and friends a legacy of how to provide and love one another. Sleep well and God bless you.
Memorials made in Sparky's name may be sent to Care Angels, care of Mary Arrington (58 Pebblebrook Way, Canton, NC 28786).
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