Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Sparks, Esther 1942
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Marilyn Ransom mransom311@gmail.com September 3, 2014, 4:41 pm

The Belding Banner, Thursday, April 16, 1942


This community was deeply socked and saddened Friday to learn of the untimely 
death of Mrs. Alden Sparks, age 28, who before her marriage four years ago was 
Esther Monroe Crawford.  The mother of two small children, she had been ill 
only a short time and was moved from her home in Keene township to Ionia 
Community hospital Friday morning, passing away shortly before noon.

She was born October 5, 1913, in Keene township, Ionia county, the daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. Everett Monroe.  Following the mother’s death when she was five 
years old, Esther came to Belding and made her home with Mr. and Mrs. George 
Crawford.  Although not legally adopted by the Crawfords, she was raised as 
their own child.  After graduating from high school in 1931 she entered nurses’ 
training in Butterworth hospital, Grand Rapids, giving up the course when she 
became ill with scarlet fever.  She later assisted Mr. Crawford in the store 
and cared for Mrs. Crawford until the time of her death.  She was employed for 
a time in the finishing department at the hosiery mill.

She was a member of the Methodist church, a member of the O.E.S. and a former 
member of the Business and Professional Women’s club.

On February 18, 1938 she was married to Alden Sparks, prominent Keene township 
farmer, who with their two small children, Robert, two and one-half years, and 
Gayla, 16 months, survive.  Also surviving are the foster father, George 
Crawford; her own father, Everett Monroe, of Pontiac; three brothers, Boyd and 
Lloyd Monroe of Detroit and Delbert Monroe.

Funeral rites were conducted at the Fales funeral home Sunday afternoon with 
Rev. William Blanding officiating, and burial was in the Marble cemetery.  
Pallbearers were Robert Howe, Paul Kohn, Delbert Scott, Ray Neilson, Justin 
Wright and Fred Kesler.


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