Ruth Foster Sparks

Life long resident of Ithaca, Ruth Foster Sparks, age 94, passed away on November 29, 2016 with her family by her side  in Rockville, Indiana. Ruth was born at home on the Earl Davis farm in Emerson Township, Gratiot County, to Elmer Ray and Rosa Belle (Barnard) Foster on 19 March 1922. The location of her birth was less than a mile from her Great Grandparents John and Abigail Barnard (Michigan Pioneers) homestead. At the time of her birth she was welcomed by her two older brothers Leonard and Wilbur. A few years later the family of three children expanded to five with the birth of a set of twins, Ester and Lester. Times were hard and as Ruth and the other Foster children grew to maturity caring for a sickly mother education was put on the back burner to work. Ruth and her siblings worked in the fields topping sugar beets, hoeing bean fields, picking crops and other odd jobs to help support the family.

While working at the Sever Hotel in Ithaca Ruth met the love of her life, Delbert Sparks. They had a short engagement and we’re married 1 March 1943. They made they’re home in Ithaca for the most part except during the WWII when they resided in Ann Arbor area to support the war effort. Ruth and Del both worked in factories making bombs and aircraft parts. To this union four children were born Ronald, Bonnie, Donald and Patricia. Del and Ruth had a love affair there entire married life, and we’re a shining example of love and comprised leaving a lasting impression on there children.

Ruth was a  constant caregiver, caring for her ageing parents, her children and then her husband. And doing so with a full time job, Ruth retired from Wolverine World Wide in 1987,with 25 years of service to the company.  Ruth had three of the most enjoyable hobbies, she was an avid reader after only completing the 8th grade and read two or three novels a week up until her passing she, also loved to crochet the most beautiful lace for pillow cases, table cloths and dollies, and she had pen pals for years. At one time she had over 20 pen pals from around the world!

Ruth will be missed by friends and family. To morn her death is her daughter and son in law James & Patricia Sparks Brown of Rockville, In, Daughter in law Janet (Donald) Sparks of Marietta, Ohio, grandchildren, Ester and Scott Shalknecker Parkersburg, WV, Molly and Jason Denton, Marietta, Ohio,  Audrey and Justin Rexroad of Marietta, Ohio, Sibylle-Marie Wolfgang and Bruce Miller of Kinross, MI and Aaron and Brandi Wolfgang of Clarksville, Tn. Also seven Great grand sons, Zachary and Christopher Mayo, Jarin and Andrew Wolfgang, Copper Sparks, Aaron and Donald Denton. Three Sister in laws Greta (Leonard) and Geneva (Lester)Foster of Ithaca and Ruth (Chester) Sparks of Alma, and several nieces and nephew’s. Preceding her in death her husband Delbert, children, Ronald, Bonnie and Donald, siblings, Leonard, Wilber (Norberta), Ester (Maynard) Parrish and Lester and grand daughter Laura Jean Sparks.  She is the last of an era of the Foster family having out lived all of her siblings and her greatest regret having outlived three of her four children.

Funeral services for Ruth will be Monday, December 5, 2016 at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. Pastor Doug Strait will officiate and burial will follow at Ithaca Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 11-1pm, Monday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.