Ophelia Rivers Sparks, 84, peacefully passed away on Monday, March 27, 2017. Ophelia was a born in Pensacola and spent her childhood years on Scenic Highway. She married and moved away with her then military husband.

Eventually, she moved back to Pensacola where she lived until she remarried and moved with her husband and children to Cocoa, FL. While in Cocoa, Ophelia became employed at Cape Kennedy where she was secretary in the offices of the Original Seven astronauts. After a number of years she again returned to Pensacola where she has remained and where she met her beloved husband. She was a successful insurance agent until her retirement. Ophelia was active in several insurance and business women's organizations. She attended Heights Baptist Church for many years.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert J. Sparks; parents, Ernest and Mattie Baker Rivers and her sisters, Mildred Borowski and Myrtle Nobles.

She is survived by her children; Teresa G. Pingree (John), Francis Dale Graves Jr. (Debbie) and Robert A. Hurst (Tonya); sisters, Grace Severin and Madeline Black and brothers, Ernest Rivers (Keetz), Olan Rivers (Mitzie) and Lynwood Rivers (Gayle). Ophelia has 11 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 2:30pm Saturday, April 1, 2017 at Bayview Memorial Park with Rev. Brian Nott officiating.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the American Lung Association.