William “Bill” Sparkman

William “Bill” Sparkman passed away Saturday evening on July 9th,2016, at the North Carolina State Veterans Home in Fayetteville with his family by his side. He was born on March 25, 1929 in Cumberland County to the late Reba Sparkman Poole and Joseph Sparkman. He Graduated from Garner High School. He had three children, Donna, Cindy (Mark), and Billy (Roxanne), with Mary Ann Foster Sparkman, his wife of 58 years. He had  five grandchildren, Mary Anna Rice, Marissa Rice, Aiden Rice, Christian Rice, and Savanna Sparkman. Bill served as a sergeant in the Korean War and was honorably discharged after four years of service. During those years he worked as a military police officer in Korea. He worked later in the Raleigh Police Department.  Following his time in Raleigh, he served in the Vice Squad in Norfolk,  Virginia. He was acting police chief in Killen Alabama, also with the  Cary NC Police Department, and acting Chief of Police in Garner, NC. He later worked with the ABC Board. In 1968, he and his wife bought the Toot-N-Tell Drive-In. After numerous remodels, the restaurant has been owned and operated by Bill, Mary Ann and Donna Sparkman.  Bill served the community by supporting youth baseball and football. He built condos at the beach and his son Billy worked alongside him  for many years in an additional business, Sparkman Construction. Bill was a deeply devoted husband and father and will deeply be missed by his friends and family. In Lieu of other gifts memorial donations may be given to the Alzheimers Association.