Virginia's Story
March 3, 2021
Virginia Anna Helzer Sparkman, age 91, of Orlando, Florida, passed away on February 1, 2021. She was born on 9/14/29 to Jacob H. Helzer and Elma Bugg Helzer, in Mt. Clemens Michigan. She was the oldest of three daughters and big sister to Marian (Kathy) and Etta Mae. She was raised in Plant City, Florida and lived there until her marriage to Perry L. Sparkman on September 5, 1948. They lived in Gainesville Florida while Perry went to college at the University of Florida, where she became a die hard Gator football fan.
Her first daughter, Perri Sue (Brian) Baker was born in Lakeland, they then moved to Bradenton and daughters Judy Langel and Lynn Christenson were born. Next move was to West Palm Beach, where her youngest daughter, Cindy Langton was born.
Due to Perry's new job with Chevron, they moved to Orlando and she continued her Beta Sigma Phi membership with a new chapter there. Many of her best and dearest friends were made through her sorority and remained so till her death. She and her friends called themselves the Golden Girls, which included her sorority sisters Betty Gates, Anne Leibowitz and Carolyn Grace. They had many adventures and good times over the years, she treasured them and their time together. She also had many life long friends she made in her Orlando neighborhood, including Hilda and Clyde Kirkland, Betty Pallone, Bill and Karen Rumpf, Fred and Barbara Skees, Dick Skees, and Bill and Dorothy Vaden.
She was blessed with three grandchildren, Megan (Curtis) Argroves, Kurt Langel and Lauren Langel, and four great grandchildren Curtis, Jordan, Micah, Ellie and Aniya.
Her favorite hobbies were shopping, watching Gator football, working in her yard, walking on the beach and talking. She could have a conversation with a complete stranger and always promoted her beloved Florida and the Strawberry Festival.
Virginia will be forever missed by her family and friends.
Her first daughter, Perri Sue (Brian) Baker was born in Lakeland, they then moved to Bradenton and daughters Judy Langel and Lynn Christenson were born. Next move was to West Palm Beach, where her youngest daughter, Cindy Langton was born.
Due to Perry's new job with Chevron, they moved to Orlando and she continued her Beta Sigma Phi membership with a new chapter there. Many of her best and dearest friends were made through her sorority and remained so till her death. She and her friends called themselves the Golden Girls, which included her sorority sisters Betty Gates, Anne Leibowitz and Carolyn Grace. They had many adventures and good times over the years, she treasured them and their time together. She also had many life long friends she made in her Orlando neighborhood, including Hilda and Clyde Kirkland, Betty Pallone, Bill and Karen Rumpf, Fred and Barbara Skees, Dick Skees, and Bill and Dorothy Vaden.
She was blessed with three grandchildren, Megan (Curtis) Argroves, Kurt Langel and Lauren Langel, and four great grandchildren Curtis, Jordan, Micah, Ellie and Aniya.
Her favorite hobbies were shopping, watching Gator football, working in her yard, walking on the beach and talking. She could have a conversation with a complete stranger and always promoted her beloved Florida and the Strawberry Festival.
Virginia will be forever missed by her family and friends.