Dennis Parley "D.P." Sparks

Asheville - Dennis (D.P.) Sparks, 87, of Asheville, passed away Thursday, February 17, 2005 at Mountain Area Hospice Solace Center after an extended illness. A native of Unicoi County, TN, he had been a resident of Buncombe County for the past 55 years. He retired from American Enka and from the Buncombe County Juvenile Detention Center. Mr. Sparks was a member of Rock Fork Presbyterian Church, and was a US Navy veteran of World War II. He was the son of the late James and Bonnie Sands Sparks, and the husband of Lena Sparks, who passed away October 11, 1993. He was also preceded in death by two sisters: Gladys Bradly and Agnes Crump; and three brothers: Clyde, Doyle and Charles Sparks. Surviving are his daughter, Sandra Sparks and friend Danny Rice of Asheville; his son, John Sparks and wife Jackie of Leicester; two grandchildren: Lauren and Tyler Sparks; his sister, Virginia Turner of Asheville; and his beloved friend, Jessie Holland of Candler. Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Sunday in the Chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ricky Wolfe and the Rev. Bobby Smith officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mountain Area Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.