Ronald Ernest Sparks, 85, of Kennewick passed away on February 12, 2018. He was born in Sunnyside on February 6, 1933 to Ernest "Roy" and Mildred (Robertson) Sparks. He joined the Navy after high school and served stateside during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1954. He spent 16 years as a security patrolman at Hanford and was selected to the color guard for President John F. Kennedy's visit during 1963 for the groundbreaking ceremony for N reactor. Ron moved to Seattle in 1972 where he worked for the Federal Protective Service until retiring in 1997. During his career with FPS he received many citations for outstanding performance. Ron enjoyed gardening, traveling and spending time with family. He and his wife Edna, whom he married in 1975, returned to the Tri-Cities in 2006. Ron is survived by his sister Dorothy Scurlock; brother Robert Sparks; sons Ray Beach and David (Rosie) Sparks; stepchildren Kathy (Randy) Hicks, Ron (Teresa) Johnston, Karen (Jeffrey) McDaniel; grandchildren Erin, Michelle, Iris, Ian, Savannah, and Houston; and great granddaughter Norma Jean. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Edna (Rowell) Sparks, brother Maynard Sparks, brother Faye "Bud" Sparks, and sister Merle Blum. Viewing will be Saturday, February 24 from 1:30 to 2:30 PM at Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home with graveside interment service following at 3:00 PM at Desert Lawn Memorial Park 1401 S. Union in Kennewick.