Margaret Wilkinson Sparks was born the fifth child of 14 to George Eugene and Bertie Moore Wilkinson on August 30, 1920 in Birmingham, Alabama. Her twin brother Marion Thomas Wilkinson was born 15 minutes before her. She weighed only 3 1/2 pounds so it was a miracle that she survived and flourished and lived to be 96 years and 21 days old. She was a beautiful girl and woman both physically and spiritually. She graduated from high school in June 1938, married her life's true love, Thomas Emerson Sparks, on July 15, 1938, and turned 18 in August. The marriage lasted 49 years until Sparky's death and they had one daughter, Dorothy Kay, and one son Thomas Emerson, Jr.

At the early ages of 24 and 22 Sparky asked Margaret if she would move "out West". She asked "how far West" and his response was, “Just as far as we can go without falling in the ocean." Her reply was, "Let's do it!” For two young people from the South who had never traveled more than 100 miles from home, that was a major life decision. Dad was transferred as paymaster on the plant construction at Hanford with DuPont in 1943 just as the work at Hanford began in earnest. Mother followed 3 months later with 1 year old Kay as soon as Dad found housing. Their first house was an 'A' house on Farrell Lane in Richland and Mother said she thought they were at the end of the earth.

After the atomic bomb with plutonium developed at Hanford ended WWII and things settled down, Thomas was born in 1957 and their family was complete. Mother was a stay at home Mom until Tommy was 5 years old when she started work with General Electric - first in 200 East and later at the Federal Building. Several years later when the government houses in Richland were being sold, they elected to buy a farm near Benton City.

 Mother retired at age 52 and spent her days gardening, keeping house and line dancing. She danced every week for over 15 years and loved the music and the exercise. In 1987 Sparky died and 3 years later she sold the farm and moved to Richland until 2000 when she successfully battled breast cancer and moved to Orange County, CA to live with Kay. They shared their house and lives for the rest of her life. There has never been a sweeter, kinder mother, friend and confidant than Margaret.

She is survived by her daughter Kay, Pasco; son Thomas, Stanwood, WA; and Grandson Joshua, Lake Stevens, WA. Also surviving are brother Marion Thomas; Anniston, AL; Robert Charles, Pasco; and sister Eloise Wilkinson Tinker, Marietta, GA.