wfn.org | W. Maynard Sparks, one of two remaining former EUB bishops, dead at

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92

Aug. 19, 1999 Contact: Thomas S. McAnally*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-21-71B{427}

NOTE:  A photo is available for use with this story.

By United Methodist News Service

United Methodist Bishop W. Maynard Sparks, 92, one of two remaining bishops
elected in the former Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Church, died at his
home in Sacramento, Calif., Aug. 17.  

Sparks was elected a bishop in 1958, 10 years before the EUB and Methodist
churches  merged  to become the United Methodist Church.  His death leaves
Bishop Paul W. Milhouse, Franklin, Ind., as the only surviving former EUB
bishop.  Milhouse was elected in 1960.  At the time of Methodist-EUB union
in 1968, there were one retired and seven active EUB bishops.

Sparks was born  in Rockwood, Pa.,  Dec. 16, 1906,  to the Rev. George A.
and Sarah Heefner Sparks.  As early as age 13 he was granted a quarterly
conference license to preach.  This was followed by a permanent license and
in time full membership in the Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren
in Christ Church.

As an EUB bishop, he supervised work in the church's Western Area.
Following EUB-Methodist union he was assigned to the Seattle Area where he
served until his retirement in 1972..  While in Seattle, he also served for
about 18 months as interim bishop of the Portland Area  following the death
of Bishop Everett W. Palmer in January 1971.

Prior to being elected a bishop, Sparks served as pastor of churches in
Pennsylvania, superintendent of the church's Allegheny Conference, and
assistant professor or religion and chaplain at Lebanon Valley College in
Annville, Pa. He was a delegate to the 1946  EUB uniting conference,
bringing together the United Brethren in Christ  and the Evangelical Church.

In 1961, Sparks represented the EUB Church at independence ceremonies for
the African nation of Sierra Leone where he later presided over several
annual conference sessions.  

He earned a B.A. Degree from Lebanon Valley College; a Bachelor of Divinity
Degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio;  and a Master of
Education Degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

He was preceded in death by his wife Blanche May Frank Sparks, who died in
1989, and a son Lynn, a clergy member of the Rocky Mountain Annual
Conference who died in a mountain climbing accident in 1978.   The bishop is
survived by two sons:  Fred of Elk Grove, Calif., and Robert of Lebanon,
Pa., four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

A memorial service will be held  at 10 a.m. Aug. 25 at Faith United
Methodist Church in Sacramento, Calif.  Memorial gifts may be sent to the
church at 3600 J. Street, Sacramento, CA 95816.

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