West Woodstock, Vermont

Warren G. H. Sparks of West Woodstock, Vermont died at home on January 10, 2018 at the age of 96 ½.

He was preceded in death by his wife Angeline Sparks who died on February 20, 2017, his brothers Sanford C. Sparks, Raymond F. Kimble, Lester L. Kimble, Harry C. Kimble, his sister Virginia M. (Sparks) Sorenson, his daughter Joyce J. Prelas, and his grandson Joseph J. Prelaw.

He is survived by his daughters Janet (Jenny) C. Sparks (Woodstock, VT/Rome, NY), Kathleen E. (Sparks) Coleman and son-in-law Van Coleman (Bethel, Vermont), Lea (Prelas) Harrill (Albuquerque, NM) and son Joseph P. Prelas (Swanzey, NH) as well as numerous grandchildren, great grandchild and great great grandchildren.

The son of the late Robert H. & Emma (Cox) Sparks, Warren was born in Middletown, NY where he spent his youth working and living close to the land. He joined the Navy at the age of 19 and served in the North Atlantic on the U.S.S. Albemarle and the South Pacific on the U.S.S. San Jacinto during WWII.

Warren took great pride in serving his nation and enjoyed the adventurous, and sometimes perilous, life of a sailor. He reenlisted after WWII, served in the Korean War, and he worked his way up to the second highest enlisted rank, Senior chief petty officer. After 20 years of distinguished service he applied for and was offered an officer's commission but, after careful consideration of how a return to sea duty would affect his young family, he declined and retired from military service.

Warren then embarked upon the comparatively less adventurous career field of insurance with the same enthusiasm and dedication. He eventually settled his family amongst the green mountains of Vermont where he was an independent insurance agent for Vermont Cooperative Insurance with his agency office at 5 The Green, Woodstock, VT. He was active in the Republican Party, the Masonic Lodge, The Woodstock Rotary, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Warren was an avid hunter and fisherman and he loved the outdoors.

Warren was known for his faith in Christ, his belief in America, and his dedication to family and community.

The family recognizes the help of so many these past few years in the care and comfort of their father but most especially his neighbors Gayle and Don for their help and friendship and to the various members of the Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Vermont and New Hampshire Organization who gave our father such dedicated care and support. For this and so much more our family is forever grateful.

On Saturday, January 20, 2018, a wake will be held from 1:00 to 1:30 PM which will directly be followed by services from 1:30 to 2:30 PM. Both will be held at the Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock, Vermont. A private burial will occur at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or the Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Vermont and New Hampshire organization.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock, VT an on line guest book can be found at cabotfh.com