Donald Ray "Chum" Sparks, 59, of Lancaster St., Marietta, has gone home with his Lord September 28, 2010, after fighting a courageous battle with Lou Gehrig disease. He was born August 14, 1951, in Ithaca, Michigan to Delbert and Ruth Foster Sparks. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during the Vietnam Era. He had worked in the oil fields for Atlas Supply in Michigan. They moved to Marietta in 1984. He attended Kentucky Farrier School and was then self employed as a farrier in the Mid-Ohio Valley for the past 27 years. He enjoyed making handmade long bows, loved hiking, canoeing, and time spent with his family. Chum was a member of the American Farrier Association and the W.V. Farrier Association. He is survived by his mother of Ithaca, MI; his wife, Janet "Jan" McCarthy Sparks, they were married on July 27, 1974; three daughters, Esther Stalnaker (Scott) of Parkersburg, WV, Molly Denton (Jason) of Dublin, and Audrey Sparks of Marietta; two grandsons, Cooper Sparks and Aeron Denton and two sisters, Bonnie Dean of Mt. Pleasant, MI and Patricia Brown (James) of Richmond, KY. He was preceded in death by his father, a daughter, Laura Sparks, and a brother, Ronald Sparks. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 2, 2010, at the Marietta Chapel of Cawley & Peoples Funeral Home, with Dr. Lloyd Dennis officiating. His family will greet friends for one hour prior to his service. Chum's wishes were that memorials should be "pay it forward", meaning an unexpected gift to someone in need. Also, contributions may be made to Cleveland Clinic, Neurological Institute, P.O. Box 931517, Cleveland, OH 44193-1655 or to Marietta Home Health & Hospice, 210 N. Seventh St., Suite 400, Marietta, OH 45750.
