Lois E. Sparks of Severna Park died peacefully in her sleep on March 23, 2014.  She was born in 1934 in Buffalo, NY to Herman and Frieda Hilbrecht.

Her adventures began after graduating college when she became a school teacher for the U.S. Department of Defense in Frankfurt, Germany in 1955.  Using that as her home-base, she traveled through Europe entering in and out of cold war countries experiencing the local cultures and history.  Her stories and photos have amazed her family and friends for years.   When asked how she was able to cross into East Berlin and Russia at that time, she would just wink and reply "wouldn't you like to know", causing her children to jokingly call her "Natasha the Spy".

While based in Germany, Lois met and married U.S. Army Officer, Jerry L. Sparks in Switzerland in 1963.

After a brief station back in the United States, their next adventure began in Japan, traveling the Orient for several years.  Returning to the states, they settled in Severna Park in 1970.

Lois began teaching at Jacobsville Elementary School, then transferred to Old Mill Middle North as a Social Studies teacher.  Retiring from teaching in 1998, she set out to again conquer the world.  She volunteered and sat on the Board of several local committees, running and planning the trips for years out of the Arnold Senior Center.

Lois lived her life her way, making strong bonds with friends throughout her life and dragging them along with her on adventures and travels.  For those who were able to keep up with her, she enriched their lives with her wit and knowledge.   She would tell them to "stick with me, I will teach you a few things".

She is survived by her daughters, Susan (John) Karcher of New Windsor, MD; Debby (Kevin) Trently of Magnolia, DE; Judy (Chris) Motta of Easton, MD; Stepson, Robert Sparks of Severna Park, MD; Stepdaughter, Barbara (Tim) Berlett of Lovettsville, VA; 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; her brother, Ronald (Sylvia) Hilbrecht of Pinehurst, NC.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Family and friends may visit from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at Barranco & Sons, P.A. Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Hwy, in Severna Park.  Interment was held at Lakemont Memorial Gardens in Davidsonville on July 26, 2014.

Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com