Rev. Frank and Donna Sparks celebrate 70th anniversary June 13

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Frank and Donna Sparks today

Frank and Donna Sparks at their wedding

EAST ALTON – The Rev. Frank and Donna Mae Taylor Sparks will observe their 70th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, June 13. They will celebrate the occasion with a family dinner party at Castelli's Restaurant on Fosterburg Road.

The Rev. William Bohn performed the couple's wedding service on June 13, 1953 at the First Baptist Church of East Alton.

The Rev. Frank Sparks was an engineering manager and later production manager at the Owens-Illinois Mold Manufacturing plant (a large machine shop) in Alton.

Donna Sparks was a bookkeeper at several area banks.

During Sparks' 40 years at Owens-Illinois, the couple made many business trips to Europe, Central and South America, Asia and Australia. He helped set up new mold manufacturing facilities for Owens-Illinois client companies and design new manufacturing techniques for the affiliates. Donna Sparks was his beautiful and constant companion.

The Rev. Frank Sparks received his ordination for ministry in 1997 and the couple have served in American Baptist Churches for the past 30 years.

The Sparks have three daughters: Dawn Karenko (Ted), Kimberly Beyer (Jeff), and Jennifer Bienemann (Mike). They are blessed with four wonderful grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.