Funeral services for Jimmy Ralph Sparks, also known as J.R. or "Fatboy" to his close friends and family, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 13, 2024, in the Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home Chapel in Marietta with Bro. Brett Alberda officiating. Interment will follow in the Lakeview Cemetery in Marietta. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday, February 12, 2024, at the funeral home.

September 4, 1950 ----- February 4, 2024. In the all-important dash between those years was Jimmy's life journey. The journey began in Dallas, TX where Jimmy was born the son of Ralph Gerald and Clara Alline (Gregory) Sparks. Not long after graduating high school, he married the love of his life, Dorothy Rose "Dottie" Jobe on March 23, 1973, in Irving, TX. They spent more than 50 years together. Jimmy and Dottie never had any children together but they both loved their furry animal children just as well.

Jimmy worked for years at Sears in the automotive repair department in Irving, TX. He loved working on cars and trucks. When he came to his beloved Marietta, he also worked at Dale's Superette. Jimmy loved the people he worked with and loved visiting with his regular customers. Everyone will miss the stories they shared with Jimmy. He always seemed to be busy working or tinkering around on a vehicle or a motor, but he never missed an opportunity to drop what he was doing and help a friend.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Dottie, and a sister, PatsyCarol Symank and husband James, and all of their family in Texas; too many cousins to mention by name; and so many dear friends that he truly considered to be family as well.

The casket bearers are Walter Gregory, Philip Fisher, Kenneth Hauk, Mickel Owens, Johnny Gregory, Johnny Ray Fisher, James Symank, and Dewain Pokladnik.