LONDON, KY. - William E. "Bill" Sparkman, Jr., age 51, died September 12, 2009 in Clay County, KY.
Bill was born in Bartow, Fl. on August 12, 1958.
Bill was a native of Mulberry, Fl. who delighted in working & teaching young people of all ages. Bill completed 12 years of his education at the Mulberry Schools and while he was in high school he completed courses in calculus at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fl. In his freshman year at Vanderbilt University he was also a manager for the football team. Bill returned to Florida for his other college years at University of South Florida.
Bill's career path began as a sports editor of the Mulberry Press, his hometown newspaper. Bill was also the sports reporter, sports photographer, sports layout and even delivered papers to circulation boxes around town. Bill was also spending his summers at Boy Scout Camp where as an Eagle Scout, Bill served 3 summers as the ecology director and 2 summers as program director. Bill then decided to enter the ranks of professional Scouting serving 12 years in several councils including a 3 year stint as the Associate National Director of the Order of the Arrow in Texas. Bill eventually moved to London, KY.
In the beginning, he worked as a Scout Leader, but then became interested in education. At Johnson Elementary he became a volunteer and then an Instructional Assistant. Bill did that job for 9 years as well as an after school program.
Bill entered Western Governors University on the Internet while doing census work for the Federal Government, being an instructional assistant and involved in an after school program. Bill received his degree to teach middle school math in 2008 while battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Bill's words concerning his cancer were "I have been knocked down, but I refuse to be knocked out."
As a guest speaker at his graduation at WGU in Salt Lake City, Utah he said, "Those brick walls will appear from time to time in your career. Do not let them stop you! There are no failures, just teaching moments. As Thomas Edison once said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
Bill did his internship at a school in London and after receiving his degree he substituted in Laurel County while being interviewed for a permanent teaching position. Bill continued his census work and after school programs. With all this he still continued to call all the people at Johnson Elementary his "school family".
Bill was preceded in death by his father William E. Sparkman, Sr. Bill is survived by his mother Henrie, brothers Dr. Thomas K. Sparkman and Jonathan C. Sparkman, niece, Natalie Ann Sparkman and nephew Jonathan C. Sparkman and son Joshua William Sparkman.
Memorial services will be held Saturday November 7, 2009 @ 11 00 A.M. at Mulberry United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Wildwood Cemetery in Bartow. OUT OF RESPECT BILL'S MOTHER REQUESTS NO MEDIA COVERAGE! PLEASE!
Arrangements entrusted to Seigler Funeral Home- Mulberry, Fl.
======================
Mystery surrounds death of man found in Clay Co. cemetery
By Tara Kaprowy, Staff Writer
Sentinel Echo. London, Kentucky.
Found lifeless near a cemetery Saturday, Laurel County substitute teacher Bill Sparkman, 51, was mourned Monday.
"He was just super," said Gilbert Acciardo, Johnson Elementary Family Resource Youth Service Center director. "Dependable, fun, a professional. He really loved the kids and he loved the teaching profession."
Sparkman's body was found in a clearing in a wooded area near Hoskins Cemetery on Arnett's Fork in southern Clay County.
"Someone was going to the cemetery where they had family members buried," Kentucky State Police Trooper 1st Class Don Trosper said. "As they were driving to go up to the cemetery, that's when they saw. It was reported by a passerby."
KSP Detective Donald Wilson was sent to investigate.
"At this time, the manner of death is unknown," Trosper said. "Foul play has not been ruled out."
Sparkman's body was taken to the state medical examiners office in Frankfort for an autopsy. The cause of death is pending its results.
Trosper confirmed Sparkman had not been shot, as some rumors indicated.
Acciardo and his colleagues at Johnson Elementary became concerned over Sparkman's well-being when he didn't show up to work at after-school day care Thursday.
"Mr. Sparkman was a very responsible person," Acciardo said.
Acciardo went to Sparkman's home — he lived alone — to check up on him.
"We even went late that night when he normally would be home," he said. "We know him and we know his habits and we know if he should be home or not."
All they found was Sparkman's dog Jack.
"By Friday morning, we were sure something was wrong," Acciardo said. "I contacted the state police and had them start an investigation about his whereabouts and his well-being."
Sparkman moved to Laurel County in 1993 as part of an assignment for his job with the Boy Scouts of America. Shortly after arriving, he became a volunteer at Johnson Elementary, an experience he so enjoyed he became interested in pursuing a career in education. He was eventually offered a position as instructional assistant, which he accepted.
"For the nine years, I did it, I loved," he told The Sentinel-Echo in March 2008. "All those years at Johnson, I taught the first hour of the morning, they called it daily oral review ... I loved teaching that."
So much so, Sparkman decided to become a teacher.
In the summer of 2005, Sparkman enrolled in Western Governor's University to earn his bachelor's degree.
Spending an average of 20 hours a week studying and plowing through classes, Sparkman was set to graduate in December 2007.
But in September 2007, he showed his doctor a cyst that had developed on the side of his neck.
"As soon as he saw it, I went to the hospital," he said.
He was eventually diagnosed with Stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Sparkman underwent six session of chemotherapy, during which his Johnson Elementary colleagues rallied around him.
"They were sneaky," he said. "They gave me two huge baskets full of food, books, tapes and clothes and gift certificates. I was just ... I couldn't believe they'd done that."
Despite his illness, Johnson continued to work and, by the end of December, he'd completed his classroom work and student teaching. In answer, his Western Governor's University mentor asked him to attend graduation in Salt Lake City as the keynote speaker. He agreed and made the trip, imparting some words of wisdom to 600 of his fellow students.
"I'd been knocked down, but I refused to be knocked out," he said. "Those brick walls will appear from time to time in your career. Do not let them stop you. There are no failures, just teaching moments."
Sparkman was substituting at schools this fall. It is believed he was also working for the United States Census Bureau.
Staff writer Tara Kaprowy can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].
Bill committed suicide.
Bill was born in Bartow, Fl. on August 12, 1958.
Bill was a native of Mulberry, Fl. who delighted in working & teaching young people of all ages. Bill completed 12 years of his education at the Mulberry Schools and while he was in high school he completed courses in calculus at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fl. In his freshman year at Vanderbilt University he was also a manager for the football team. Bill returned to Florida for his other college years at University of South Florida.
Bill's career path began as a sports editor of the Mulberry Press, his hometown newspaper. Bill was also the sports reporter, sports photographer, sports layout and even delivered papers to circulation boxes around town. Bill was also spending his summers at Boy Scout Camp where as an Eagle Scout, Bill served 3 summers as the ecology director and 2 summers as program director. Bill then decided to enter the ranks of professional Scouting serving 12 years in several councils including a 3 year stint as the Associate National Director of the Order of the Arrow in Texas. Bill eventually moved to London, KY.
In the beginning, he worked as a Scout Leader, but then became interested in education. At Johnson Elementary he became a volunteer and then an Instructional Assistant. Bill did that job for 9 years as well as an after school program.
Bill entered Western Governors University on the Internet while doing census work for the Federal Government, being an instructional assistant and involved in an after school program. Bill received his degree to teach middle school math in 2008 while battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Bill's words concerning his cancer were "I have been knocked down, but I refuse to be knocked out."
As a guest speaker at his graduation at WGU in Salt Lake City, Utah he said, "Those brick walls will appear from time to time in your career. Do not let them stop you! There are no failures, just teaching moments. As Thomas Edison once said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
Bill did his internship at a school in London and after receiving his degree he substituted in Laurel County while being interviewed for a permanent teaching position. Bill continued his census work and after school programs. With all this he still continued to call all the people at Johnson Elementary his "school family".
Bill was preceded in death by his father William E. Sparkman, Sr. Bill is survived by his mother Henrie, brothers Dr. Thomas K. Sparkman and Jonathan C. Sparkman, niece, Natalie Ann Sparkman and nephew Jonathan C. Sparkman and son Joshua William Sparkman.
Memorial services will be held Saturday November 7, 2009 @ 11 00 A.M. at Mulberry United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Wildwood Cemetery in Bartow. OUT OF RESPECT BILL'S MOTHER REQUESTS NO MEDIA COVERAGE! PLEASE!
Arrangements entrusted to Seigler Funeral Home- Mulberry, Fl.
======================
Mystery surrounds death of man found in Clay Co. cemetery
By Tara Kaprowy, Staff Writer
Sentinel Echo. London, Kentucky.
Found lifeless near a cemetery Saturday, Laurel County substitute teacher Bill Sparkman, 51, was mourned Monday.
"He was just super," said Gilbert Acciardo, Johnson Elementary Family Resource Youth Service Center director. "Dependable, fun, a professional. He really loved the kids and he loved the teaching profession."
Sparkman's body was found in a clearing in a wooded area near Hoskins Cemetery on Arnett's Fork in southern Clay County.
"Someone was going to the cemetery where they had family members buried," Kentucky State Police Trooper 1st Class Don Trosper said. "As they were driving to go up to the cemetery, that's when they saw. It was reported by a passerby."
KSP Detective Donald Wilson was sent to investigate.
"At this time, the manner of death is unknown," Trosper said. "Foul play has not been ruled out."
Sparkman's body was taken to the state medical examiners office in Frankfort for an autopsy. The cause of death is pending its results.
Trosper confirmed Sparkman had not been shot, as some rumors indicated.
Acciardo and his colleagues at Johnson Elementary became concerned over Sparkman's well-being when he didn't show up to work at after-school day care Thursday.
"Mr. Sparkman was a very responsible person," Acciardo said.
Acciardo went to Sparkman's home — he lived alone — to check up on him.
"We even went late that night when he normally would be home," he said. "We know him and we know his habits and we know if he should be home or not."
All they found was Sparkman's dog Jack.
"By Friday morning, we were sure something was wrong," Acciardo said. "I contacted the state police and had them start an investigation about his whereabouts and his well-being."
Sparkman moved to Laurel County in 1993 as part of an assignment for his job with the Boy Scouts of America. Shortly after arriving, he became a volunteer at Johnson Elementary, an experience he so enjoyed he became interested in pursuing a career in education. He was eventually offered a position as instructional assistant, which he accepted.
"For the nine years, I did it, I loved," he told The Sentinel-Echo in March 2008. "All those years at Johnson, I taught the first hour of the morning, they called it daily oral review ... I loved teaching that."
So much so, Sparkman decided to become a teacher.
In the summer of 2005, Sparkman enrolled in Western Governor's University to earn his bachelor's degree.
Spending an average of 20 hours a week studying and plowing through classes, Sparkman was set to graduate in December 2007.
But in September 2007, he showed his doctor a cyst that had developed on the side of his neck.
"As soon as he saw it, I went to the hospital," he said.
He was eventually diagnosed with Stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Sparkman underwent six session of chemotherapy, during which his Johnson Elementary colleagues rallied around him.
"They were sneaky," he said. "They gave me two huge baskets full of food, books, tapes and clothes and gift certificates. I was just ... I couldn't believe they'd done that."
Despite his illness, Johnson continued to work and, by the end of December, he'd completed his classroom work and student teaching. In answer, his Western Governor's University mentor asked him to attend graduation in Salt Lake City as the keynote speaker. He agreed and made the trip, imparting some words of wisdom to 600 of his fellow students.
"I'd been knocked down, but I refused to be knocked out," he said. "Those brick walls will appear from time to time in your career. Do not let them stop you. There are no failures, just teaching moments."
Sparkman was substituting at schools this fall. It is believed he was also working for the United States Census Bureau.
Staff writer Tara Kaprowy can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].
Bill committed suicide.
LONDON, KY. - William E. "Bill" Sparkman, Jr., age 51, died September 12, 2009 in Clay County, KY.
Bill was born in Bartow, Fl. on August 12, 1958.
Bill was a native of Mulberry, Fl. who delighted in working & teaching young people of all ages. Bill completed 12 years of his education at the Mulberry Schools and while he was in high school he completed courses in calculus at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fl. In his freshman year at Vanderbilt University he was also a manager for the football team. Bill returned to Florida for his other college years at University of South Florida.
Bill's career path began as a sports editor of the Mulberry Press, his hometown newspaper. Bill was also the sports reporter, sports photographer, sports layout and even delivered papers to circulation boxes around town. Bill was also spending his summers at Boy Scout Camp where as an Eagle Scout, Bill served 3 summers as the ecology director and 2 summers as program director. Bill then decided to enter the ranks of professional Scouting serving 12 years in several councils including a 3 year stint as the Associate National Director of the Order of the Arrow in Texas. Bill eventually moved to London, KY.
In the beginning, he worked as a Scout Leader, but then became interested in education. At Johnson Elementary he became a volunteer and then an Instructional Assistant. Bill did that job for 9 years as well as an after school program.
Bill entered Western Governors University on the Internet while doing census work for the Federal Government, being an instructional assistant and involved in an after school program. Bill received his degree to teach middle school math in 2008 while battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Bill's words concerning his cancer were "I have been knocked down, but I refuse to be knocked out."
As a guest speaker at his graduation at WGU in Salt Lake City, Utah he said, "Those brick walls will appear from time to time in your career. Do not let them stop you! There are no failures, just teaching moments. As Thomas Edison once said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
Bill did his internship at a school in London and after receiving his degree he substituted in Laurel County while being interviewed for a permanent teaching position. Bill continued his census work and after school programs. With all this he still continued to call all the people at Johnson Elementary his "school family".
Bill was preceded in death by his father William E. Sparkman, Sr. Bill is survived by his mother Henrie, brothers Dr. Thomas K. Sparkman and Jonathan C. Sparkman, niece, Natalie Ann Sparkman and nephew Jonathan C. Sparkman and son Joshua William Sparkman.
Memorial services will be held Saturday November 7, 2009 @ 11 00 A.M. at Mulberry United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Wildwood Cemetery in Bartow. OUT OF RESPECT BILL'S MOTHER REQUESTS NO MEDIA COVERAGE! PLEASE!
Arrangements entrusted to Seigler Funeral Home- Mulberry, Fl.
======================
Mystery surrounds death of man found in Clay Co. cemetery
By Tara Kaprowy, Staff Writer
Sentinel Echo. London, Kentucky.
Found lifeless near a cemetery Saturday, Laurel County substitute teacher Bill Sparkman, 51, was mourned Monday.
"He was just super," said Gilbert Acciardo, Johnson Elementary Family Resource Youth Service Center director. "Dependable, fun, a professional. He really loved the kids and he loved the teaching profession."
Sparkman's body was found in a clearing in a wooded area near Hoskins Cemetery on Arnett's Fork in southern Clay County.
"Someone was going to the cemetery where they had family members buried," Kentucky State Police Trooper 1st Class Don Trosper said. "As they were driving to go up to the cemetery, that's when they saw. It was reported by a passerby."
KSP Detective Donald Wilson was sent to investigate.
"At this time, the manner of death is unknown," Trosper said. "Foul play has not been ruled out."
Sparkman's body was taken to the state medical examiners office in Frankfort for an autopsy. The cause of death is pending its results.
Trosper confirmed Sparkman had not been shot, as some rumors indicated.
Acciardo and his colleagues at Johnson Elementary became concerned over Sparkman's well-being when he didn't show up to work at after-school day care Thursday.
"Mr. Sparkman was a very responsible person," Acciardo said.
Acciardo went to Sparkman's home — he lived alone — to check up on him.
"We even went late that night when he normally would be home," he said. "We know him and we know his habits and we know if he should be home or not."
All they found was Sparkman's dog Jack.
"By Friday morning, we were sure something was wrong," Acciardo said. "I contacted the state police and had them start an investigation about his whereabouts and his well-being."
Sparkman moved to Laurel County in 1993 as part of an assignment for his job with the Boy Scouts of America. Shortly after arriving, he became a volunteer at Johnson Elementary, an experience he so enjoyed he became interested in pursuing a career in education. He was eventually offered a position as instructional assistant, which he accepted.
"For the nine years, I did it, I loved," he told The Sentinel-Echo in March 2008. "All those years at Johnson, I taught the first hour of the morning, they called it daily oral review ... I loved teaching that."
So much so, Sparkman decided to become a teacher.
In the summer of 2005, Sparkman enrolled in Western Governor's University to earn his bachelor's degree.
Spending an average of 20 hours a week studying and plowing through classes, Sparkman was set to graduate in December 2007.
But in September 2007, he showed his doctor a cyst that had developed on the side of his neck.
"As soon as he saw it, I went to the hospital," he said.
He was eventually diagnosed with Stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Sparkman underwent six session of chemotherapy, during which his Johnson Elementary colleagues rallied around him.
"They were sneaky," he said. "They gave me two huge baskets full of food, books, tapes and clothes and gift certificates. I was just ... I couldn't believe they'd done that."
Despite his illness, Johnson continued to work and, by the end of December, he'd completed his classroom work and student teaching. In answer, his Western Governor's University mentor asked him to attend graduation in Salt Lake City as the keynote speaker. He agreed and made the trip, imparting some words of wisdom to 600 of his fellow students.
"I'd been knocked down, but I refused to be knocked out," he said. "Those brick walls will appear from time to time in your career. Do not let them stop you. There are no failures, just teaching moments."
Sparkman was substituting at schools this fall. It is believed he was also working for the United States Census Bureau.
Staff writer Tara Kaprowy can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].
Bill committed suicide.
Bill was born in Bartow, Fl. on August 12, 1958.
Bill was a native of Mulberry, Fl. who delighted in working & teaching young people of all ages. Bill completed 12 years of his education at the Mulberry Schools and while he was in high school he completed courses in calculus at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fl. In his freshman year at Vanderbilt University he was also a manager for the football team. Bill returned to Florida for his other college years at University of South Florida.
Bill's career path began as a sports editor of the Mulberry Press, his hometown newspaper. Bill was also the sports reporter, sports photographer, sports layout and even delivered papers to circulation boxes around town. Bill was also spending his summers at Boy Scout Camp where as an Eagle Scout, Bill served 3 summers as the ecology director and 2 summers as program director. Bill then decided to enter the ranks of professional Scouting serving 12 years in several councils including a 3 year stint as the Associate National Director of the Order of the Arrow in Texas. Bill eventually moved to London, KY.
In the beginning, he worked as a Scout Leader, but then became interested in education. At Johnson Elementary he became a volunteer and then an Instructional Assistant. Bill did that job for 9 years as well as an after school program.
Bill entered Western Governors University on the Internet while doing census work for the Federal Government, being an instructional assistant and involved in an after school program. Bill received his degree to teach middle school math in 2008 while battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Bill's words concerning his cancer were "I have been knocked down, but I refuse to be knocked out."
As a guest speaker at his graduation at WGU in Salt Lake City, Utah he said, "Those brick walls will appear from time to time in your career. Do not let them stop you! There are no failures, just teaching moments. As Thomas Edison once said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
Bill did his internship at a school in London and after receiving his degree he substituted in Laurel County while being interviewed for a permanent teaching position. Bill continued his census work and after school programs. With all this he still continued to call all the people at Johnson Elementary his "school family".
Bill was preceded in death by his father William E. Sparkman, Sr. Bill is survived by his mother Henrie, brothers Dr. Thomas K. Sparkman and Jonathan C. Sparkman, niece, Natalie Ann Sparkman and nephew Jonathan C. Sparkman and son Joshua William Sparkman.
Memorial services will be held Saturday November 7, 2009 @ 11 00 A.M. at Mulberry United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Wildwood Cemetery in Bartow. OUT OF RESPECT BILL'S MOTHER REQUESTS NO MEDIA COVERAGE! PLEASE!
Arrangements entrusted to Seigler Funeral Home- Mulberry, Fl.
======================
Mystery surrounds death of man found in Clay Co. cemetery
By Tara Kaprowy, Staff Writer
Sentinel Echo. London, Kentucky.
Found lifeless near a cemetery Saturday, Laurel County substitute teacher Bill Sparkman, 51, was mourned Monday.
"He was just super," said Gilbert Acciardo, Johnson Elementary Family Resource Youth Service Center director. "Dependable, fun, a professional. He really loved the kids and he loved the teaching profession."
Sparkman's body was found in a clearing in a wooded area near Hoskins Cemetery on Arnett's Fork in southern Clay County.
"Someone was going to the cemetery where they had family members buried," Kentucky State Police Trooper 1st Class Don Trosper said. "As they were driving to go up to the cemetery, that's when they saw. It was reported by a passerby."
KSP Detective Donald Wilson was sent to investigate.
"At this time, the manner of death is unknown," Trosper said. "Foul play has not been ruled out."
Sparkman's body was taken to the state medical examiners office in Frankfort for an autopsy. The cause of death is pending its results.
Trosper confirmed Sparkman had not been shot, as some rumors indicated.
Acciardo and his colleagues at Johnson Elementary became concerned over Sparkman's well-being when he didn't show up to work at after-school day care Thursday.
"Mr. Sparkman was a very responsible person," Acciardo said.
Acciardo went to Sparkman's home — he lived alone — to check up on him.
"We even went late that night when he normally would be home," he said. "We know him and we know his habits and we know if he should be home or not."
All they found was Sparkman's dog Jack.
"By Friday morning, we were sure something was wrong," Acciardo said. "I contacted the state police and had them start an investigation about his whereabouts and his well-being."
Sparkman moved to Laurel County in 1993 as part of an assignment for his job with the Boy Scouts of America. Shortly after arriving, he became a volunteer at Johnson Elementary, an experience he so enjoyed he became interested in pursuing a career in education. He was eventually offered a position as instructional assistant, which he accepted.
"For the nine years, I did it, I loved," he told The Sentinel-Echo in March 2008. "All those years at Johnson, I taught the first hour of the morning, they called it daily oral review ... I loved teaching that."
So much so, Sparkman decided to become a teacher.
In the summer of 2005, Sparkman enrolled in Western Governor's University to earn his bachelor's degree.
Spending an average of 20 hours a week studying and plowing through classes, Sparkman was set to graduate in December 2007.
But in September 2007, he showed his doctor a cyst that had developed on the side of his neck.
"As soon as he saw it, I went to the hospital," he said.
He was eventually diagnosed with Stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Sparkman underwent six session of chemotherapy, during which his Johnson Elementary colleagues rallied around him.
"They were sneaky," he said. "They gave me two huge baskets full of food, books, tapes and clothes and gift certificates. I was just ... I couldn't believe they'd done that."
Despite his illness, Johnson continued to work and, by the end of December, he'd completed his classroom work and student teaching. In answer, his Western Governor's University mentor asked him to attend graduation in Salt Lake City as the keynote speaker. He agreed and made the trip, imparting some words of wisdom to 600 of his fellow students.
"I'd been knocked down, but I refused to be knocked out," he said. "Those brick walls will appear from time to time in your career. Do not let them stop you. There are no failures, just teaching moments."
Sparkman was substituting at schools this fall. It is believed he was also working for the United States Census Bureau.
Staff writer Tara Kaprowy can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].
Bill committed suicide.
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