Daryl's great-uncle, Wade Sparks, died last Monday after a stroke the previous week. Uncle Wade was 85. He was a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army and served in Korea and Vietnam flying fixed wing planes and helicopters. He became a music evangelist later on and traveled all around the world. He lost a leg about 7 years ago after battling near-fatal sepsis. His personality was always larger-than-life. We spent pretty much every Thanksgiving with him and Aunt Kathleen in the last twenty years.
Four years ago, they surprised us in Ocala on a Sunday afternoon, driving over from Orlando where they were watching a granddaughter compete in a cheerleading competition. Daughter Lisa and son-in-law David came with them. The only other time we saw them after that was at Grannie's funeral two years ago.
We were fortunate to be able to drive up late on Thursday night last week to Alabama so that we could attend his funeral on Friday morning at his home church, Eastern Shore Baptist Church. His pastor and son-in-law John shared the service.
After the funeral there was a lunch for the family in the church gymnasium and then we headed to the Veterans Cemetery in Spanish Fort for the service of military honors.
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