STELLA LOUISE SPARKS DYE

Stella Louise Sparks Dye of Bluefield, VA, peacefully met her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. Born April 23, 1936, in Warriormine, WV, Stella was the daughter of the late Rev. Rufus Everett Dunford and Philla Mamie Foleno Dunford. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her Husband and Father of her three children, Ralph Sparks; her Husband, Robert Winston Dye; four brothers, Franklin Dunford, Carlis Dunford, Jimmie Dunford, Bobby Dunford and one beloved sister, Dorothy Dunford.

She is survived by three children, Ralph Sparks and wife, Sherry Sparks; Trina Crosby and husband, William "Bill" Crosby and Fran De Los Santos and husband, Adam De Los Santos; six grandchildren, Shaun Sparks, Sarah Sparks, Joshua Sparks, Seth Sparks, Rachael Sparks, Alexis De Los Santos and a step-grandson, Mario Hernandez; five great-grandchildren, Raegan Sparks, Kellan Sparks, Justin Sparks, Isaiah Sparks, Kaden Sparks and a step great-grandson, Joaquin Hernandez.

In addition to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, Stella is survived by four brothers, Fred Dunford, Luther Dunford, David Dunford, Anthony Dunford and three sisters, Christine Hagerman, Carol Lacks and Peggy Woodward.

Stella was a long-time resident of Tazewell County, Virginia, and a Retired employee of Tazewell County and the State of Virginia working in the Tazewell County Administrative offices, Tazewell County Court House and the Tazewell County Visitors' Center for well over twenty-five years.

Funeral services will be conducted by Dudley Memorial Mortuary. Services will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2015, at Cumberland Heights Baptist Church, 3811 E. Cumberland Road, Bluefield, WV. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. followed by Stella's funeral service at 3:00 p.m.

Stella's burial service will follow at Grandview Memory Gardens, Bluefield-Tazewell Road, Bluefield, VA. Personal friend and Pastor, Jim Kestner, will be officiating all services. Pallbearers will be Bill Crosby, Ralph Sparks, Adam De Los Santos, Joshua Sparks, Seth Sparks and Jeff Cardwell. Honorary Pallbearer will be Carl Blevins.