Charles Edward Sparks , 43, of Newcastle, was born June 18, 1942, near Dibble OK. He died Nov. 10, 1985, at Presbyterian Hospital in OKC, following a short illness.

Charles graduated from Dibble High School in 1960, and Okla. State University in Jan. 1965. Charles and Patricia Taylor were married on Feb. 6, 1965. Charles worked 1 year for Okla. Landscaping Co. before joining the U.S. Army in Feb. 1966. After serving basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood MO., he entered Officers Candidate School at Ft. Sill OK., graduating a Second Lt. in Dec. 1966. He then served 2 years at Hanau Army Base in West Germany. On returning from Germany, he worked at Higdon's Nursery in Okla. and in 1969 he began work with the Okla. City Park Dept., where he was employed at the time of his death. Charles was a devoted father and husband and always gave his time when anyone needed him. He enjoyed jogging with his daughter, Cathy, and working on the computer with his son, David. Charles served as past president of the Northwest Lion's Club, President of the Newcastle Basketball Booster Club, President of the Okla. Turfgrass Assoc., and a member of the OSU Alumni Assoc. Charles was presently serving with 95th U.S. Army Reserves as a Major, with a total of 18 years military service. He was a member of the Dibble Free Will Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Pat, children, Cathy and David, all of the home in Newcastle; parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Sparks of Dibble OK; brothers, Willard Robert of Memphis TN, James of Dibble , Roy of El Reno OK, and Glen of Dibble ; sisters, Frances Sparks of Ft. Worth TX, and Bertha Mathews of Lindsay OK; mother-in-law, Chelsia Taylor, brother-in-law, Rick Taylor, both of Walters OK; 12 nieces and nephews, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, and a multitude of friends.

Services will be held at 10:30am Tuesday, Nov. 12, 1985, at the Free Will Baptist Church in Dibble , with Bro. Lewis Cox officiating.

Interment will be in the Dibble Cemetery , under the direction of Eisenhour Funeral Home, Blanchard. Pallbearers will be George Ashford, Marvin Pipkin, Bob Cheatham, Troy Wesnidge, Wayne Housman, and Jim Manning.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorials may be made to the Leukemia Society of America - Okla. Chapter of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1124 Columbia St., Seattle WA 98104.