JOE SPARKS

MALDEN, Mo. -- Funeral for Joe Elwood "J.E." Sparks of Malden, formerly of Cape Girardeau, will be held at 2 p.m. today at Landess Funeral Home in Malden. The Rev. Scott Keller will officiate. Burial will be in Elder Cemetery at Campbell, Mo.

Sparks, 75, died Monday, April 9, 2001, at Dexter Memorial Hospital in Dexter, Mo.

He was born June 6, 1925, in Fare Springs, Miss., son of Jessie and Effie Vinson Sparks. He and Eunice Baker were married Oct. 5, 1950, at Kennett, Mo.

Sparks was retired from Pepsi Cola Co. He was a member of First General Baptist Church and served as trustee.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-45.

Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Carolyn Johnson and Connie Blake of Malden, Peggy Richardson of Clarkton, Mo.; a son, Joe Sparks of Matthews, Mo.; three brothers, Hoite Sparks of Maryland Heights, Mo., Floyd Sparks of St. Louis, Wilburn Sparks of Jackson, Mo.; a sister, Pauline Jerome of Illinois; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters.