Patti Sue Sparks, 84, went to be with her Lord on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. Patti was born in Hadden Heights, N.J. on March 2, 1938 to John and Helen Manning.
Patti married Richard Sparks on Aug. 22, 1959 at Rose Methodist Church in Terrie Haute.
She is survived by her sister Judy Archbold; three sons, Doug (Brenda) Sparks of Warren, John (Serena) Sparks of Columbia, S.C. , and David (Kathy) Sparks of Indianapolis. She had 11 grandchildren: Justin, Melissa, Kent, Michael, Josh, Zach, Laura, Andrew, Nicole, Thomas and Ashley. She had 15 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Richard, brother-in-law Steve Archbold, and a great-granddaughter Allison Rose Sparks.
Patti was a graduate of Indiana State University. She was a teacher for 33 years- 10 years in LaPorte County, 5 years in Florida and 18 years at Southern Wells High School where she wrote the curriculum for Consumers Education for Indiana. She was sponsor at Southern Wells for the Future Homemakers of America (FHA) for many years and when they had the first male state officer for FHA.
She was one of the founding members of Southern Wells Community Church. She was a Gideon for 54 years, a member of TOPS and worked for many summers at Camp Good News. She was the Child Evangelism Director of LaPorte county. Patti was a devout Christian who lived every moment serving God. She started teaching Sunday school at the age of 16 and continued doing this for 68 more years.
Service to celebrate her life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 14, 2022 at Southern Wells Community Church Saturday, located at 9450 South 300 West, Poneto, Indiana.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Southern Wells Community Church or to her grandson’s kidney donation fund. This can be done at the service or online at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/joshs-road-to-healing?member=24289269&utm_medium=email&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_email%2Binvitesupporters
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Lemler Family of Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home. Friends can send online condolences to the family at www.thomarich.com.