Bobby June Sykes, age 81, of Florence, died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 23, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Spry-Williams Funeral Home of Florence. The service will follow at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Brother Ellis Coats officiating. Burial will be at Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens with full military honors. Grandsons will serve at pallbearers.
He was a member of the church of Christ and served his country from 1953 until 1956 in the Korean Conflict as a communications specialist. He married the love of his life, Barbara Wesson Sykes, on September 11, 1953. He worked until retirement as a union insulator for Local 78.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Cullen and Gladys Sykes, daughter, Wanda Sykes Elias, sons, Bobby Rae Sykes and Phil Sykes, and brother, Donald Sykes.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Barbara Sykes; sons, Robert “Billy” Sykes (Teresa) and Walter Sykes (Angela); grandchildren, Tommie Elias, Michael Elias, Joshua Sykes, Justin Sykes (Tiffany), Cory Sykes, Christopher Sykes (Sara), and Chad Sykes (Erin); great-granddaughter, Taylor Elias; sisters, Barbara Peace (Robert) and Carol Morrison; son-in-law, Tom Elias; and daughter-in-law, Shari Sykes. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of the Shoals
