William K. “Bill” Sykes, 81, a native of Crystal Springs, Miss., former resident of Jackson and a resident of Orange Beach, died Monday, April 9, 2007 after a long battle with cancer.
He was a veteran of World War II and served as a B-17 bomber pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He was a graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi; a Safety Director of Marquette Cement for 12 years; later he moved to Jackson where he was safety director for Ciba Geigy, retiring in 1981; was well known as a Dixie League Coach for 17 years; and was loved and respected for his leadership in the community. Since moving to Orange Beach/Gulf Shores area, he organized Us Too International, a prostate Cancer Support Group sponsored by South Baldwin Regional Medical Center and Dr. William Hixon. He has received several local and state wide proclamations for his leadership in prostate cancer awareness; and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Gulf Shores and a member of the Andrew J. Cooper Sunday School Class for men.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Max and Eva D. Sykes.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Robbie Ann B. Sykes of Orange Beach; two daughters, Susan E. (Jim) Drury of Montgomery and Victoria A. (John) Mixon of Orange Beach; one son, William K. “Kenney” (Susan) Sykes of Key West, Fla.; brother, Vernon Sykes of Jackson, Miss.; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 13 at Gulf Shores First Baptist Church.
Instead of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 361767, Birmingham, AL 35236-1767 or Us Too Cancer Support Group through www.ustoo.org or a memorial of your choice.
Arrangements are by Mack Funeral Home and Crematory, Robertsdale.
