Richard E. Sparling, 93, rural Wabash, died at 7:10 a.m., Friday April 27, 2018, at Parkview Wabash Hospital. He was born Jan. 14, 1925 in Lagro Township in Wabash County, to Homer and Mary (Preiser) Sparling.

Mr. Sparling was a 1943 graduate of Lagro High School. He married Marjorie Hawkins, in Wabash, Nov. 7, 1947, and they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last year. He was a rural mail carrier twenty-five years, retiring in 1987, and also was a lifelong farmer. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, and a charter member of the Richvalley Lions Club. He enjoyed gardening and cutting wood.
He is survived by wife, Marjorie Sparling, Wabash; three children: Ron (Lavonne) Sparling and Craig (Monica) Sparling, both of rural Lagro; Joyce (Bill) Gentry, Indianapolis; three grandchildren: Kale (Emily) Sparling, Gilbert, Ariz.; Julie (Dukengtson) Lavache, Wabash; and Kami (Scott) Ross, Lagro; six great grandchildren: Christian and Drew Shoemaker, both of Wabash; Chase and Noah Ross, both of Lagro; and Finn and Theo Sparling, both of Gilbert; brother, Wayne (Beverly) Sparling, Wabash; and sister-in-law, Miriam Sparling, Wabash. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandson, Casey Sparling, brother, Robert Sparling, and his sister, Mary Ellen Willmert.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 1,at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, Wabash, with Rev. Chris Tiedeman officiating. Burial will be in Friends Cemetery, Wabash. Friends may call 5 – 8 p.m., Monday, April 30, at the funeral home.

Preferred memorial is Casey Sparling Memorial Scholarship C/O Community Foundation of Wabash County, 105 W. 2nd Street, North Manchester 46962, or Christ United Methodist Church, 477 N Wabash Street, Wabash.