Long Term Lovers of Howard County
Richard and Joyce (Foster) Sparks : 51+ Years
Married August 19th, 1950
Both Richard and Joyce originally hailed from Jasper County, Illinois. They had grown up knowing each others' families, but did not start dating until March, 1949. Richard, who had been serving in the Army Reserves, was reactivated and being sent to Korea, so he and Joyce eloped to Piggott, Arkansas, where they married on August 19, 1950. They have continued to do quite a bit of traveling during their married life, including to Canada and Mexico. They have been residents of Howard County since 1952, and have 2 children and 4 grandchildren.
Joyce's comments on their marriage: "We were always committed to staying married. We are both pretty easy-going, but have had our disagreements. We just hung in there and made up."
Richard Sparks, 1927 -
Joyce (Foster) Sparks, 1932 -
