Ray James Sparks passed away on Feb 5, 2013. For more than fifty years he was the beloved partner of Bill Ingraham who died in April 2008.
Born on June 15, 1932 in Cambridge MA, to Clara (Burden) Sparks, he graduated from Belmont High School and received an ASA degree from Bentley College. He served in Army during the Korean War. In the Army, he attended the Security School and was stationed in the Far East, including Hong Kong, the Philippines,
Upon returning to Boston he was employed by State Street Bank and Trust in their auditing department and in the College Shop of the Kennedy Clothing Co.
He also volunteered at the Burn Center at Children’s Hospital and the Blood Bank at State Street Bank.
On Labor Day, 1957, he met the love of his life, Bill Ingraham and they had been life partners ever since. Bill and Ray were married on August 3, 2007 to celebrate their fifty years together as well as Bill’s 80th and Raymond’s 75th birthdays.
They moved to Provincetown in 1970 and bought the White Dory Inn which they ran successfully for ten years. Ray worked the front of the house and had a wonderful way with people. He was known as ‘Mr. White Dory’ long after they sold the Inn in 1980. He was a part of the fabric of Provincetown until shortly before his death, using his famous social skills to help out at the White Wind Inn.
To guests of the Inn, Ray was the historian who taught them all about the "Community" that is Provincetown....Ray would often say that "Community', was the one word that best described Provincetown, and that this trait was the most important quality of this town he called "Home'. He was also involved in town service, serving on the Licensing Board and on the Town Finance committee. Until he became ill, he was an active volunteer with the Council on Aging, AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, the Provincetown Business Guild and the Meals on Wheels program.
For years he played Santa for the Senior Social at the Senior Center. He was involved from the very first meeting that planned Carnival, and for years was responsible for counting the money, taking the tickets or just welcoming out-of-towners’ to Provincetown’s most famous event. He was also a life member of the American Legion Post # 0071, and the VFW Post 3152.
Raymond traveled widely and well. He and Bill traveled all over Canada and the United States by train and riverboat making friends where ever they went, often having visits years later from friends they made while in Alaska or Atlanta.
He was predeceased by his mother, father and in 2003 by his brother Brent. He leaves behind his sister in law Lillian Sparks, niece and nephew Janice Sparks of Belmont and Robert Sparks of Montana and a wide circle of friends young and old that includes those’ grand kids’ that have always thought of Ray and Bill as their ‘GGP’s, their gay grand parents!
The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 11th at Provincetown United Methodist Church, Shankpainter Rd, Provincetown. Burial will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery. Visiting Hours at the Gately Funeral Home, Harry Kemp Way and Howland Street, Provincetown will be Sunday, February 10th from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Donations in Ray’s honor may be made to the Provincetown Public Library, 356 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA 02657 or the Pilgrim Bark Park, PO Box 1898, Provincetown, MA 02657.