John 'Jack' Sparks Jr., retired insurance agent

John N. “Jack” Sparks Jr., 88, of Lewes and formerly of Selbyville and Middletown, died Monday, Feb. 24, 2014, at Cadbury at Lewes in Lewes. He was born in St. Georges and was the son of the late John N. and Eleanor (Simmons) Sparks Sr.

Jack had been an insurance agent with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. (Met Life) for 40 years. He was a member of St. Matthews By-The-Sea United Methodist Church in Fenwick Island, an associate member of Bethel United Methodist Church in Lewes and a recipient of the St. Barnabas Award for outstanding service in the Peninsula Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was also a Mason and a member of Rotary International and a past  district hovernor and a Paul Harris Fellow.

He is survived by one daughter, Janet K.S. Blevins (John) of Seaford; two sons, John N. “Sparky” Sparks III (Jan) of Coral Springs, Fla. and Jeffrey T. Sparks (Mona) of Orlando, Fla. He also is survived by two grandchildren, Jaime Sparks and Kevin Sparks; and one great-granddaughter, Cara Guthrie.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne J. Sparks Jan. 4, 2014.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, Feb. 27, at 11 a.m. at St. Matthews By-The-Sea United Methodist Church in Fenwick Island with the Rev. Bruce Miller officiating and where friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery in Middletown Friday, Feb. 28, at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Matthews By-The-Sea United Methodist Church, 1000 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island, DE 19944, or to the Cadbury Foundation, 17028 Cadbury Circle, Lewes, DE 19958.

Arrangements are by Hastings Funeral Home in Selbyville.