Roy John Sykes, of Willow Spring, North Carolina, passed away on July 29, 2023.

Roy was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on March 6, 1948. After graduating from Perry High School, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a radio operator in Marine Recon in Vietnam (Company C, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, Third Marine Division) as well as in Communications in the U.S. and NATO operations in Europe. He achieved the rank of Sergeant and received the Bronze Star medal for meritorious service in a combat zone.

Shortly after returning home, Roy met Elizabeth Kay (Betsy) Linhart, the love of his life. The two were married in Irwin, Pennsylvania, on June 26, 1971, beginning a marriage that would last 52 years. They had one daughter, Amy Beth Sykes, in 1978. Roy enjoyed spending time with Betsy riding bicycles and demonstrating his woodworking talents at the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival. He also loved spending time with Amy, teaching her everything he knew.

Roy worked for the Bell Telephone Company (later Bell Atlantic and Verizon) for 33 years. He started as a switching equipment technician, worked his way up to manager, and eventually became a central office supervisor responsible for 13 company offices that provided phone service to 2,500 square miles of southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia. He was remembered by his coworkers as a kind and caring man who urged them to put "God first, family second, and work third" and who had a lasting influence on many careers.

After retiring, Roy declared that he was finished with snow and moved with Betsy to Raleigh, North Carolina. He continued to practice his many hobbies, including woodworking, drawing and drafting, painting, calligraphy, playing with his beloved dog and "grand-dogs," and cruising in his Jaguar. A fearless do-it-yourselfer despite being notoriously accident prone (frequently declaring, "Bleed on it—then it'll work!"), he was constantly busy with home improvement and repair projects that ranged from minor tinkering to designing and building fireplaces and sheds from the ground up. Roy also wrote and self-published a book, Recoil, about his experiences in Vietnam.

Roy was inherently a helper and will be remembered by many for his kind, selfless nature and eagerness to take care of others—not only "his girls" but also countless fellow veterans, neighbors, coworkers, and friends. He was funny and fun and he had a big heart. He was also a devout Christian who firmly believed that he had nothing to fear from "going home to Heaven."

Roy's family would like to thank all those who have supported us during this difficult time. We invite those who are so inclined to honor his memory with a donation to St. Jude Children's Hospital, a veterans' charity, or an animal shelter.