David Sparks

Funeral services for Mr. David 'Shorty' Earl Sparks, age 81 of Cookeville, will be held Friday November 16, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the Cookeville chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Interment with military honors rendered by the Veterans Honor Guard will follow at Brown's Mill Cemetery. Rev. Benton Flatt will officiate. His family will receive friends Friday from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Mr. Sparks died Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at his residence. He was born January 5, 1937 in Cookeville to the late Waymon and Irene Buckner Sparks. He proudly served his country as a Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy. David worked as an auto body mechanic for many years, at Cookeville Ford and at Bob's Body Shop until his retirement in 1997. He served in the Putnam Co. Sheriff's Department Auxillary for 12 years. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. His pride, joy and true happiness was always his family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Riley, Hollis, and Johnnie Sparks; sisters, Geneva Sparks, RoseNell Sparks and Mary Nelson; and by great grandaughter, Everly Neely. He is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Jill Gambrell Sparks (whom he married March 8, 1958 ; daughters, Nancy Gentry, Debbie (Johnny Darnell) , Jane (Martin) Foutch and Carol Spencer, all of Cookeville, sons, Jimmy (SueAnn)Sparks of Cookeville and Thomas Sparks of Crossville; ten grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren; brothers, Raymond Sparks of Peru, Indiana and Dean Sparks of Cookeville; and sisters, Martha (Charles) Lumpkin of Cookeville and Frances Miller of Powell, TN. Steven , Robert , Caleb Smith, Martin Foutch, Taylor Foutch and Stacy Robinson will serve as pallbearers. Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements (931)526-6111. Share condolences and memories at hhhfunerals.com.