1923
Mr.
2008
Mr. Billy Sparks
October 21, 1923 — November 24, 2008
Billy S. Sparks, age 85 of Overland Park, Kansas passed away after a brief illness on November 24, 2008.
Billy was born October 1, 1923. Billy grew up in Sioux City, Iowa where he graduated from high school and received a scholarship to Harvard College. Following the advent of World War II Billy enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was commissioned as a Lieutenant after completing the graduate meteorology school at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Billy was stationed to India and Burma where he worked as the Army Air Corps flew supplies to General Stilwell's command in China. Billy met his future wife, Dorothy Stone, in 1942 and corresponded with Dorothy throughout his time in military service. Dorothy and Billy were married in 1946 upon his return to the states. They moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he completed his undergraduate education with a degree in mathematics. Billy then attended Harvard Law School where he graduated in June, 1949. Billy and Dorothy moved to Kansas City following graduation and he began his law practice with the law firm of Langworthy Matz and Linde, which was a predecessor to the firm of Linde Thomson Langworthy Kohn & Van Dyke. Billy was a partner at that firm until he retired in 1990. He was primarily a trial attorney and was licensed to practice before the Missouri Courts, Federal District and Courts of Appeal and the United States Supreme Court. He was a member of the Missouri Bar, Lawyers Association of Kansas City, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, National Association of Bond Lawyers and National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel. Billy was known as a real advocate and lawyer's lawyer. In 1956 Billy was a candidate for State Representative in Johnson County, Kansas and in 1962 a candidate for Congress in the 3rd Congressional District for Kansas. He was Treasurer of the Johnson County Democratic Committee from 1955 through 1960, was a delegate to several Kansas Democratic State Conventions and was a delegate to the 1964 Democratic National Convention. From 1956 through 1963 he served on the Mission Planning Commission. From 1964 through 1969 he served on and was president of the District 110 School Board in Johnson County where he served with what became many of his lifelong best friends. Following consolidation of the school districts in Northeast Johnson County into Shawnee Mission School District 512 he was elected to the School Board for that district for which he served as President in 1972-1973. Billy was active in the Kansas Association of School Boards. In 1975, Billy was appointed by Governor Bennett to the Kansas Civil Service Commission. From 1976 through 1990 he served as Chairperson of that Commission. Billy was a member of the Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Kansas City, the Harvard Law School Association, the American Legion, the China/Burma/India Veterans Association, Milburn Golf & Country Club and the Kansas City Club. Billy was a member of Countryside Christian Church for over 50 years where he served as elder, trustee and deacon.
Billy loved to travel, play golf and also play games and cards, particularly games where he could use his memory to card count. Billy had a dry wit and sense of humor but always cared about family and friends.
Billy was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, who died January 22, 2002.
Billy is survived by his three children, John Sparks, Independence, Missouri, Dr. Susan Taylor and her husband Bob Taylor, Springdale, Arkansas and Stephen Sparks and his wife, Martha Sparks, Overland Park, Kansas, as well as by his six grandchildren, Luke, Maria, Erik, Adam, Rachael and Matthew. Billy's family would like to express the particular appreciation to the staff and caregivers of the Forum, Overland Park, Kansas, who gave him care and comfort in the waning weeks of his life.
In lieu of flowers the family suggest contributions in Billy's memory to the Church, Shawnee Mission Education Foundation or a charity of the donor’s choice. Private Burial. Visitation will be 2-4 pm on Sat., Nov 29 at Countryside Christian Church, 6101 Nall, Mission, Kansas.
SERVICES
Visitation
Funeral Service
Interment
Billy was born October 1, 1923. Billy grew up in Sioux City, Iowa where he graduated from high school and received a scholarship to Harvard College. Following the advent of World War II Billy enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was commissioned as a Lieutenant after completing the graduate meteorology school at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Billy was stationed to India and Burma where he worked as the Army Air Corps flew supplies to General Stilwell's command in China. Billy met his future wife, Dorothy Stone, in 1942 and corresponded with Dorothy throughout his time in military service. Dorothy and Billy were married in 1946 upon his return to the states. They moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he completed his undergraduate education with a degree in mathematics. Billy then attended Harvard Law School where he graduated in June, 1949. Billy and Dorothy moved to Kansas City following graduation and he began his law practice with the law firm of Langworthy Matz and Linde, which was a predecessor to the firm of Linde Thomson Langworthy Kohn & Van Dyke. Billy was a partner at that firm until he retired in 1990. He was primarily a trial attorney and was licensed to practice before the Missouri Courts, Federal District and Courts of Appeal and the United States Supreme Court. He was a member of the Missouri Bar, Lawyers Association of Kansas City, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, National Association of Bond Lawyers and National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel. Billy was known as a real advocate and lawyer's lawyer. In 1956 Billy was a candidate for State Representative in Johnson County, Kansas and in 1962 a candidate for Congress in the 3rd Congressional District for Kansas. He was Treasurer of the Johnson County Democratic Committee from 1955 through 1960, was a delegate to several Kansas Democratic State Conventions and was a delegate to the 1964 Democratic National Convention. From 1956 through 1963 he served on the Mission Planning Commission. From 1964 through 1969 he served on and was president of the District 110 School Board in Johnson County where he served with what became many of his lifelong best friends. Following consolidation of the school districts in Northeast Johnson County into Shawnee Mission School District 512 he was elected to the School Board for that district for which he served as President in 1972-1973. Billy was active in the Kansas Association of School Boards. In 1975, Billy was appointed by Governor Bennett to the Kansas Civil Service Commission. From 1976 through 1990 he served as Chairperson of that Commission. Billy was a member of the Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Kansas City, the Harvard Law School Association, the American Legion, the China/Burma/India Veterans Association, Milburn Golf & Country Club and the Kansas City Club. Billy was a member of Countryside Christian Church for over 50 years where he served as elder, trustee and deacon.
Billy loved to travel, play golf and also play games and cards, particularly games where he could use his memory to card count. Billy had a dry wit and sense of humor but always cared about family and friends.
Billy was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, who died January 22, 2002.
Billy is survived by his three children, John Sparks, Independence, Missouri, Dr. Susan Taylor and her husband Bob Taylor, Springdale, Arkansas and Stephen Sparks and his wife, Martha Sparks, Overland Park, Kansas, as well as by his six grandchildren, Luke, Maria, Erik, Adam, Rachael and Matthew. Billy's family would like to express the particular appreciation to the staff and caregivers of the Forum, Overland Park, Kansas, who gave him care and comfort in the waning weeks of his life.
In lieu of flowers the family suggest contributions in Billy's memory to the Church, Shawnee Mission Education Foundation or a charity of the donor’s choice. Private Burial. Visitation will be 2-4 pm on Sat., Nov 29 at Countryside Christian Church, 6101 Nall, Mission, Kansas.
SERVICES
Visitation
Funeral Service
Interment
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mr. Billy Sparks, please visit our flower store.