Orpha Augusta Sparks

passed away peacefully May 28, 2018 following a stroke. She was preceded in death by her parents Edna & Orval Millikan, sister Harriet Garrett, her 1^st and 2^nd husbands David W. Sparks, Donald P.Lynch, her partner Harold E. Turner and her daughter Judith E. Collins. Survivors include her son David C.(Chuck & Carolyn) Sparks, grandchildren Katherine (Kyle Meyer) Sparks and Gregory Sparks, sisters Marion Arthur and Ann Tschiemer, nieces and nephews Sandra Garrett (Robert) Hatcher, Steven (Fran) Garrett, Richard (Marleah) Garrett, Alan (Jennifer) Arthur, Doug Arthur, Robert (Carola)Tschiemer, Carolyn S. Byers and Mark (Iren) Taylor. Also close to the family are Amy Lynch (Rick)Weinert, Laura Lynch (Greg) Thompson, Don (Ronda) Turner, Rob (Lori) Turner, and Jack Turner.

Thanks to St Thomas Hospice for keeping her comfortable and Burgess Square nursing staff for TLC in her last days.

Born October 31 1924 the second of 4 daughters, to Orval and Edna (Barker) Millikan of Sheridan, IN, Orpha graduated Sheridan HS with top marks, and attended Indiana Business College and Purdue University until her engagement and marriage to David W. Sparks of Westfield in 1946. She was secretary and librarian at Site A, the Lemont IL precursor to Argonne National Lab where atomic reactors were developed after WWII. Next she raised two children in Westfield, IN and La Grange,IL, then worked for Chicago's US Gypsum Co as a librarian, then Continental Bank, LaGrange State Bank and Northern Trust as librarian and Trust accountant, retiring in 1989.

In addition to softball, camping, boating, travel and garage sales, Orpha loved singing in church choir, holding many positions in church leadership. She was sought after for her skills at sewing, quilting and pie-making. In 1969 she donated a kidney to her daughter. She welcomed Cuban refugees in 1961 and made a home for several foster children in the 1970's. Memorials in Orpha's name would be welcomed by the First United Methodist Church of Western Springs or the Salvation Army, Oakbrook Terrace. A memorial service is planned for Saturday June 17 3:30 PM CDT at First United Methodist Church of Western Springs , 4300 Howard, WS 60558, IL. Her ashes will be interred next to daughter Judy's in Crown View Cemetery, Sheridan IN at a date TBA.