Lloyd August Sparing

Lloyd August Sparing age 93, died on March 23, 2017 at Valley General Hospital, Renton, Washington.

Lloyd was born October 7th, 1923 in Helena, Montana to the late August and Helen Sparing. He graduated from Helena HS in 1942. He married his true love, Ione Weiss, in 1949. The couple moved to Renton, Washington in 1952 where Lloyd went to work for the Boeing Aircraft Company.

Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Carol Eickoff, and brother William. His wife Ione followed him two days later, on March 25th 2017.

He is survived by daughters Paula Mays, Joanie Sheppard, Carla, and by son Peter. He is also survived by grandchildren Tracy, Trisha, Jacob, Jocelyn and Andreya, as well as great-grandchildren Cole, Hunter and Nathan.

Lloyd worked for Boeing for 36 years until his retirement in 1988. While still in Montana he worked on the railroads and as an auto mechanic. Always a practical man, he used his skills to build much of the family's first house in Renton. He was often seen working in his garage; mending bicycles, creating all sorts of wood items from furniture to carvings. He loved his Dad's metal lathe and drill press, and had many assorted tools. As the children grew they took many family trips on the carefully maintained bikes.

He was a devout churchgoer and deacon of the Village Chapel in Renton for many years, and helped with many chores, such as driving the Sunday school bus and warming up the church for Sunday services. He later was a valued member of Living Hope Christian Fellowship.

Lloyd was a great storyteller and was a member of Toastmasters. He enjoyed relating his experience of going to see the Yankees in New York. He told many hair-raising stories of his youth that were invariably amusing rather than tragic. He had a knack of making a well worn story sound fresh, and his jokes, never racy, never failed to raise a chuckle, if not downright laughter. His smile and lively face will live on.