In Memoriam

James Foss, MD

1948 - 2021

James Michael Foss, M.D. passed away on July 13, 2021. He was born October 4,1948 in Pt.Townsend, WA. to the Rev. William J. Foss and Mrs. Marion M. Dix Foss.

Jim graduated from Stadium High School, The University of Washington, and The University of Washington Medical School. He completed his internship and Family Practice Residency at Madigan Army Medical Center. Jim opened his Family Practice office in Parkland and remained there for over 30 years. He is survived by his wife Sue Ellen, son Tory (Giovanna), daughter Marida Davis (Chris), and grandchildren Sawyer and Finley Foss; Nolan, Millie, Erik and Kelsey Davis; brother Stephen(Rosalia), sister Linda Davelaar(Brian); and seven nieces and nephews. Services will be at Lake City Community Church Sunday August 1, 2021 at 2:30.

Reprinted from The News Tribune, Jul. 25, 2021

David Sparling, MD

1925 - 2021

David Sparling, M.D. Born in 1925, son of Rev. Clyde V. Sparling and Laura Strickland Sparling, David Sparling was raised in northern New York State. Following graduation from Colgate University and Albany Medical College and additional training in New Orleans and Louisville, he completed pediatric residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore. For eight years he was the U.S. Public Health Service pediatrician at Mt. Edgecumb (Sitka, Alaska), from whence he traveled widely on consultation tours throughout Alaska. He was for a time the only pediatrician in the then Territory. While in Sitka he married Florence Bouzas.

Dr. Sparling’s pediatric practice in Tacoma (1960 – 1997), in association with Doctors Nelson, Coyner, Cain, Clabots, Takahashi, Tan, Weissinger, Samujh, and Schoenike and outstanding nurses and staff was a constant source of joy and included hundreds of children from throughout Pierce County and a number of their children.

He was a University of Washington Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, a member of the Pierce County Medical Society and Washington State Medical Association, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, past chairman of its Committee on Standards of Child Health Care, past president of the Washington State Society of Pediatrics and the professional staffs of Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and St. Clare (Lakewood) Hospital, Director of the Mary Bridge-Chelyabinsk Affiliation (1993-2002), a member of the Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health (1994 – 1999), and a board member of a number of local service and arts organizations, including Tacoma Philharmonic, Steilacoom Historical Society and Kiwanis. Award, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s Distinguished Service Award and the City of Tacoma’s City of Destiny Award. He was an elder, choir member and frequent volunteer at UP Presbyterian Church and current member of Little Church on the Prairie, Lakewood. As a resident of Steilacoom, he found many volunteer opportunities and friends.

David Sparling was a dedicated family man, reading aloud and playing games with his children and spending many days camping, skiing, hiking and vacationing with them in a cabin near Mt. Rainier. His wife Florence died in 1990 after a prolonged illness. He was subsequently blessed with a second marriage to Barbara Lehmann which brought joys of retirement, gardening and travel.

He was predeceased by step-daughter Cynthia LaPrelle and survived by his wife, children John Sparling, Helen Sparling, brother-in-law Thomas Maresh (Carolyn), stepdaughters Jennifer Schilz (Ronald) and Amy Adkisson (Robert), 7 grandchildren, Nolan, Anders and Luke Schilz; Russell Phil, Morgan LaPrelle,and Ryan and Cynthia Alexandria Adkisson and 4 great grandchildren.

A family graveside service was recently held. Memorials may be made Little Church on the Prairie (Lakewood) or Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital.

Reprinted from The News Tribune, Feb. 28, 2021