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- [S927] Obituary.
Thelma C. Sparks, 95, formerly of Portsmouth, Ohio, and Petersville, Ky., went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sept. 11, 2008, at a hospital in Parma, Ohio.
Thelma was born on Oct. 29, 1912, to the late Ashel and Rosa Stamm Kidwell of Petersville, Ky.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Ed Burns, in 1955, and by her second husband, Leonard Sparks in 2002. She also was preceded in death by four brothers, Clyde, Earl, Harlan, and James Kidwell; three sisters, Lucy Alexander, Goldie Kirchner, and Myrtle Valentovic.
She is survived by a daughter, Billie Jean McKenna of Parma, Ohio; three grandchildren, Hugh McKenna of Parma, Paul (Denise) McKenna and family of Savannah, Ga., and Christine (Cam) McCloskey of Parma; three brothers, Raymond (Rosie) Kidwell of Kokomo, Ind., Delbert (Ruby) Kidwell of Hillsboro, Ohio, and Marcus (Shirley) Kidwell of Vanceburg, Ky.; and many nieces and nephews. Local relatives include: Tylitha (Tom) Seth, Tom Seth Jr., Vicki (Mike) Payton and family of New Boston, Jason (Leanne) Seth and family of South Webster, John (Sue) Kiser, Cathy Eichhorn and family of Portsmouth, Jamie (Rod) Frost and family of Lucasville, and Brenda (Bob) Smith and family of Proctorville, Ohio.
Thelma tirelessly worked to help friends and neighbors and share her witness for the Lord. She often took cookies, cakes, and food to neighbors. She would fix hot soups or lemonade for the postal motor carriers during her years living in Petersville, Ky. A member of the Christian Church of Petersville, she spent many hours helping clean the church and taking care of the flower gardens. In 2002, after the death of her second husband, Thelma moved to Portsmouth to live with her older sister, Lucy, and helped with her care until Lucy's death in 2007. During her years in Portsmouth, Thelma met and made several friends. Her favorite parting comment to those she met or came in contact with was "Have a good day."
She often attended the Portsmouth Nazarene Church or Cornerstone Methodist and the New Boston First Church of God with her sister, Lucy and nephew, Tom. She enjoyed events like the River Days' Parade and the Jackson Apple Festival. Thelma was an avid reader and enjoyed her nephew, Gary Kidwell's newspaper column, Kidwell's Korner, each week in the Lewis County Herald. She enjoyed eating out at special places like Bob Evans, The Golden Corral, and the Malt Shop where her favorite meal was a "chili dog and strawberry milkshake". She also enjoyed periodic trips home to Kenny's Restaurant in Vanceburg, Ky. A small lady in stature, Thelma was a giant in faith and duty. She will be sadly missed by all her family and friends.
A memorial service is to be held in Parma, Ohio, this week under the direction of the Golubski Funeral Home.
9/17/08
Read more: Portsmouth Daily Times - b Thelma C Sparks 95 b
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1912 - 2008 (95 years)