Wayne C. Sparks

Wayne ‘WC’ Sparks of Bristol died peacefully in his home on September 21, 2021, surrounded by those he loved most. Unfailingly devoted to his family, he leaves behind the unfillable void of husband to Jean Cilibert Sparks; father to Ken (Heidi), Colleen (d), Melanie and Curt (Abbey); ‘Papa’ to Brittany, Sarah, Ken, Kaleb, Korban, Josiah (d), Isaiah, Isabella and Ezra; and brother to Dale (d) (Nancy), Glenn (Cheri) and Garry (Mary), along with many sisters and brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews. With his departure from this life, he joins his grandfather William, his parents Calvin and Betty, his daughter Colleen, his grandson Josiah and his brother Dale.

Wayne began his life in Baltimore, Maryland before moving to Highland Park, New Jersey as a preteen. He spent his teenage years working in the family donut shop while causing as much trouble as he possibly could. He spent his summers at Camp Sandy Hill as the “wild boy in the woods”, and any warm day he could find during the rest of the year, he could be found cruising the New York Harbor in his skiff attempting to outrun the Coast Guard. He came to Connecticut in the early 1970s after finally working up the courage to ask out his high school crush. They later married and settled in Connecticut for the remainder of his life.

Throughout his working years, WC drove trucks cross-country, he dug graves, he slaughtered pigs, he was a Farmington, Connecticut police officer, and a member of the Governor’s Horse Guard before landing on a whim with the Department of Correction. DOC is where he found not only his career, but his home, holding positions all through their ranks, holding the honor of being the State’s first correctional K9 class, being one of the first CERT team members and spearheading ground breaking correctional practices still in use today. He retired after 25 years to go overseas as the Director of Security for the Iraqi Prison Mission before coming home to work in ICE detention facilities across the country. His career culminated with the startup of his own security company that he eventually handed down to his son. Wayne also contributed to the community throughout his life as a long time Sunday School teacher and teen leader at his church.

Wayne was known by all who met him as a man of character and integrity, never missing an opportunity to tell you that “it is always right to do right.” The somewhat unbelievable stories of his early years, the truly unbelievable stories of his teenage years, the dubious stories of his (many) career attempts, his ability to sniff out the most obscure news story or article known to man and talk about it for hours, his complete inability to ever win a card game but his equal inability to quit when he was losing, his endless knowledge of meaningless trivia and his unending vocabulary (real or made up) will be forever missed by his family and his friends. His varied taste in music will not be missed, as it was truly all his own.

His stubbornness, inability to ever give up, commitment, integrity, love for his family, complete selflessness, zest for life, courage, work ethic, love for God, larger than life presence and dependability will be forever cherished by all those who knew him and the legacy that he built and left for his children and grandchildren will be always in our hearts. “Say not in grief that he was no more, but live in thankfulness that he was.”

Calling hours are scheduled on Monday, September 27, 2021 at Plainville Funeral Home, 81 Broad Street, Plainville, CT from 4 to 8 PM. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 296 New Britain Avenue, Newington CT at 11 AM with burial to follow at Peacedale Cemetery, 115 James P. Casey Road, Bristol, CT. In lieu of flowers, Wayne specifically requested consideration of a donation to the National Rifle Association or the ALS Association. 

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