May 6, 1921 – March 18, 2020
John Edgar Sparling passed away on March 18, 2020. He was born in the home of his parents, John Edgar and Viola Bennett Sparling, in Oneida, Kan. on May 6, 1921. He had two brothers, Robert G Sparling and Claire B Sparling.
Jack took piano lessons at age six and enjoyed music. He served with the Army Engineer in the European and Pacific Theaters during World War II. He obtained graduate degrees from Kansas University and Emporia State College, and did additional graduate work at UCLA. He was a teacher at high school in Oneida and Willis, Kan., and he also taught in high school of the El Monte Union High School District in California for many years.
On Dec. 21, 1955 he was married to Ruth Armstrong at Hawatha, Kan., by Ruth’s father who was a Presbyterian minister. In 1959, Jack and Ruth joined the Arcadia Presbyterian Church where Jack has served for many years as Elder, Decon, Trustee. Jack and Ruth had no children.
Early in their California residence, they bought a condo in Temple City where Jack’s companion of 20 years, Ken, was caring for him and holding his hands at the time of his death. He was survived by his beloved companion Ken Shibata and a brother Bob Sparling of Topeka, Kan., and grand nephews, and grandnieces. His parents, his wife Ruth, and younger brother Claire preceded him in death.
