Norman Wayne Sparks

Norman Wayne “Norm” Sparks, 93, of the Avery Point community in Richmond, VA (formerly of Southern Shores, NC, and formerly of Northern Virginia), died February 25, 2026 in Richmond Virginia.  Born in Connersville, Indiana in 1932 to the late Stephen Ralph Sparks and Katherine Elizabeth Grubb Sparks, Norm was preceded in death by his daughter, Susan Tracy Sparks of Springfield, Virginia, his sister, Caroline Irma Ingersoll of Sciota, Pennsylvania, and his sister, Elizabeth Ann Sparks Stamper of Kissimmee, Florida.

Surviving Norm is his wife of 37 years Carol Rogallo Sparks of the residence; daughter Michele Sparks Stuart and husband Dr. Wayne C. Stuart of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; two grandchildren, Christopher James Stuart and wife Dr. April Sharp and Emily Adair Stuart and wife Tamzen Baker; his great-grandsons, Kallan Goodwin Stuart and Daimon McCollum Stuart, as well as a nephew and three nieces.

Norm was a retired Army officer who served stateside and overseas in Germany, Korea, the Netherlands and Vietnam until his retirement in 1983 after 28 years of service.  After graduating from West Point in 1955 and receiving a Masters in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Virginia in 1961, Norm taught at the United States Military Academy from 1961 to1964.  Upon his retirement, he taught high school physics in Fairfax County, Virginia and math at the College of The Albemarle and at Manteo High School, both in North Carolina.

After teaching for ten years, Norm worked for 15 years selling building materials with Griggs Lumber Company. Throughout his North Carolina years, Norm was active in the Outer Banks Presbyterian Church as an elder, choir member, and handbell choir member.

Norman and Carol loved to travel and took many cruises with family and friends to see the world. He would frequently be teased by waiters, at dinner, about being the only male with so many lovely women. The couple also enjoyed working together in their garage woodshop.

Ever serving humanity- Norm bequeathed his body to science for the furtherance of medical research and education.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday April 11, 2026 at 2:00 pm at Outer Banks Presbyterian Church.  Immediately following the service, the family will join friends at a reception in the church fellowship space.  Burial of the urn with full military honors will be held at Southern Shores Cemetery at a future date.

The family gratefully prefers memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, to either the Outer Banks Presbyterian Church or the American Cancer Society. Please share a message of comfort with the Sparks family at gallopfuneralservices.com. Gallop Funeral Services, Inc. was entrusted with arrangements.