Larry Eugene Sparks was born on March 26,1948, in Terre Haute, Indiana, to Charles M. Sparks and Mary Oleda (Holman) Sparks. At the command of the Lord on October 15, 2021, he boarded the Great Ship of Zion to go to his heavenly home.

Larry was a great son. He spent his early years in Los Angeles, California. There he had many adventures with his father and his sister, Margie. At the tender age of 8, an evangelist told him by the word of the Lord that if he would believe, God was going to do great things through him. That is when he gave his heart to Christ and started that remarkable journey of being God's appointed servant. One Sunday night service, while Larry was playing the piano, the back door of the church opened and in walked Joyce Laverne Crites, the woman who would become the love of his life. After dating for five years, on August 29, 1967, he married her. To this union, three children were born. Stacy Lynn, Robert Dale, and Steven Eugene.

Larry was a great husband and father. He was a serious man, but he was always looking to lighten the mood. He was a great provider and a loving and devoted husband. Joyce says that he was the best father. He loved his wife, he loved his children, and he was an avid Cub fan.It was universally agreed, he was a lousy cook, but he tried.

As a pastor, Larry impacted many lives. Even after leaving pastorates, years later he would still be called upon when someone he touched was in need. Many people have expressed how much they looked up to him not just as a man but as a spiritual adviser.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joyce, of Fremont, Nebraska; children Stacy Steggerda (Dan) of Mount Sidney, Virginia, Robert of Omaha, Nebraska, Lisa Keim Sparks of Fremont, Nebraska and Steven of Waynesboro, Virginia; grandchildren Cody (Thesla) Sparks, Joshua Sparks of Fremont, Nebraska, Elizabeth Kneip (Cody) of Romeoville, Illinois, Samuel Steggerda of Mount Sidney, Virginia, Vanessa Reynolds of Hamilton, Ohio and Marissa Sparks of Waynesboro, Virginia; 4 great-grandchildren; sister Margie Powell (C.D.) Fort Worth, Texas.