John Barlow Sporar

John Barlow Sporar passed away on Oct 10, 2021. He was born in Galveston, Texas on February 8, 1936. His father John Boniface Sporar was a railroad conductor. His mother, Kathryn Rosa Barlow Sporar was a school teacher.

John was always proud of having been “born on the island” and enjoyed a childhood that included sports, fishing, and serving as an altar boy. He joked that he survived twelve years of attending all-boys Catholic schools, graduating from Kerwin High School in 1953.

He attended Texas Tech University on a track scholarship and pledged Delta Tau Delta. During his time in college he fulfilled his military service requirement by joining the National Guard, where he eventually became known as Sergeant Sporar. He graduated from Texas Tech in 1958 with a Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Geology.

After attending some graduate school courses, he decided to get married and get a job. He and his first wife Jo Anne Jones raised two children, Patricia Ann Sporar Harlan and Gregory Louis Sporar.

John spent most of his career working in the oilfield services business which led to frequent travel across Texas, California, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. His international travels included Nigeria, Abu Dhabi, China, and India.

He married Sharyn Feighl in 1982 and they enjoyed a wonderful life together with their seven children. They took trips to various US cities and visited Europe multiple times - Sicily was one of their favorite spots. And they enjoyed attending family gatherings and the grandchildren’s sporting activities. John and Sharyn have been long time members of Holy Rosary Church in Houston.

John’s favorite hobby was woodworking and he built countless items of furniture, toys, fountain pens, and cutting boards. He was happiest when he was “making sawdust.”

John was predeceased by his mother, father, brother Marian Adair Sporar, and favorite uncle Walter Adair Barlow, Jr.

He is survived by his wife Sharyn Sporar, his two children Patricia Harlan and her husband Ron and Gregory Sporar and his wife Kelley, and his five step children, Cathie King and her husband Jeff, Carolyn Garofalo and her husband Mike, Michael Feighl, Cynthia Pappas and her husband Gregory, and Eric Feighl.

John is also survived by his sixteen grandchildren, Margaret Wiles and her husband Andrew, John King and his wife Megan, Caroline King, Michael King, Isabella Garofalo, Alessandra Garofalo, Gabriella Garofalo, Julia Feighl, Marisol Feighl, Andrew Pappas, Alexandra Pappas, Philip Pappas, Mari Pappas, Kathleen Feighl, Eric Feighl, Jr., and Joseph Feighl. He is survived by two great-grandchildren, Cohen Wiles and Kelly King.

A funeral mass will be held at Holy Rosary Church on Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 9:00 AM. Gravesite service will follow at Forest Park Westheimer cemetery. Pallbearers will be John King, Michael King, Andrew Pappas, Philip Pappas, Eric Feighl, Jr., and Joseph Feighl.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Dominican Friars of Holy Rosary.