Hershel Evans (Bowman) Sparks

Hershel Evans (Bowman) Sparks, was born in St, Helens, KY to the late Laura Stacey and Benjamin Harrison Bowman on September 4, 1925, and sadly, passed away on May 13, 2024 in Winter Springs, Florida. One of seven children, Hershel grew up surrounded by many and the love of family, her generosity and her faith became the characteristics by which others knew her.

Hershel met her husband Ronald in 1944, three weeks before he shipped overseas to join the Allied forces in Europe during WWII. Their early relationship was interrupted by Ronald’s capture by Axis Powers and his subsequent imprisonment.

When they were reunited in the spring of 1945, they almost immediately began their family. Their son, Ronald E. Sparks was born in February of 1946.

During the War, Hershel went to work for Eli Lilly as a line inspector for medications and other products used to help the soldiers and sailors overseas. Just as her husband’s service to country defined him, his service and hers during that war were of great pride and importance to her.

She spent many years as an insurance underwriter with the Insurance Company of North America. She would say, however, that her most important job was that of wife and mother and it is this career that most defined her. She was unfailingly kind and unselfish and dedicated to her family, her faith, and her church. A beautiful person, both inside and out, she was as good with a word of advice as with a recipe, of which she was an avid collector.

One of her crowning achievements was attaining the level of Grand Matron in the Order of the Eastern Star, a Masonic organization dedicated to charity work within the local community.

Hershel was a loving mother, grandmother, great grand-mother and great-great grandmother and her love, support, and influence will be sorely missed by many.

Hershel is predeceased by her parents and siblings and her adored husband of 67 years, Ronald C. Sparks. She is survived by her son, Ronald E. Sparks, her grandchildren, Rhonda (Sparks) Norheim, Ronald E. Sparks, and Russell E. Sparks, ten great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.