Alta Marie Sparks Swafford

Alta Marie Sparks Swafford, 91 years old, went to be with her maker on Friday, March 4, 2016. Ms. Swafford was born on April 11, 1924 in Rockingham, N.C to Edgar Herbert Sparks, Sr. and Ruth Lena Hatcher. She married Ernest Carroll Swafford, Sr. and they remained married for 67 years before his passing in December, 2015. She is survived by her sons, E. Carroll Swafford and wife Dallas, and Tommy Swafford and wife Linda, as well as her grandchildren Bryan Swafford, Suzanne, Robert, Nolan and Robbie Joe. Alta was the last surviving member of her immediate family and was one of 10 children. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her husband Ernest C. Swafford, Sr., and her siblings Violet Davis, Pansy Strickland, Francis Frazier, Edgar Sparks, Patrick Sparks, Eva Dell Wiggins, Ernest Sparks, Lorraine Huggins, and John Sparks. Alta retired from General Telephone as a telephone operator. She was a faithful member of the Eastern Star, participating regularly in meetings for as long as she was able, thanks to her friend Geneva. After her retirement, she and Ernest stayed busy by shelling pecans and working in the garden. She was a devout Christian and was raised in the Baptist Church. The family would like to thank her physician Dr. Peter Chang, Hospice of San Angelo, the special people at Senior Care of San Angelo who provided loving care for our mother, and her friend and previous caregiver, Juanita, who cared for Alta and Ernest prior to moving to the nursing home. The family will receive friends from 12:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at Harper Funeral Home. A private family service will be held at a later date. God rest her soul.