Darrell Sparlin

Darrell Wayne Sparlin was born July 19, 1936, in Covina, California, to parents Wayne and Lorene Sparlin and departed this life March 8, 2024, in Seymour, Missouri.  After high school, he began driving trucks for a number of years.  In 1964, Darrell and Peggy met through mutual friends.   They married and moved with children Glenn, Ellen, and Cindy to Flagstaff, Arizona.  After a few years there, Darrell wanted to get off the road, so they moved to Missouri where his parents and brother were operating a dairy near Fordland.  

Darrell and Peggy purchased a farm near Mansfield and began milking in 1969.  Darrell researched ways to improve the farm, building two dams to provide irrigation to 200 acres of corn and installing a labor saving feeding system.  Without prior farming experience, Darrell and Peggy found neighboring dairy farmers willing to offer advice.  Darrell also read extensively to learn the technical and management parts of a dairy operation.  

Darrell had a number of interests that included building a Piper aircraft and becoming a pilot, building a Salt Flat race car, and, in retirement, rebuilding his 1956 Ford pickup and entering it in numerous shows in the area.  

Darrell was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Sparlin, his son, Douglas Sparlin, his parents, Wayne and Lorene Sparlin, and his brother, Willard Sparlin.

He is survived by his step-children, Glenn Sparlin and his wife, Carol, Ellen Pilkington and her husband, Danny, and Cindy Rowher and her husband, Ronnie, eight grandchildren, Katie, Michael, Matthew, Mark, Paul, Alan, Mindy, and Chad, and many great-grandchildren who will miss him.  

Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children by clicking on the link below or at the funeral home.