William G. Sykes, Lt. Colonel, USAF (Retired)

July 17, 1935 – December 14, 2021

Lt. Col. William G. Sykes, passed away at home, surrounded by his family, Dec. 14, 2021, after a prolonged illness.

He was a decorated U.S. Air Force veteran. Over the course of his 21-year career, he flew fighters, bombers, tankers, helicopters and wide variety of other aircraft. He loved to fly.

He was a graduate of Columbia Prep High School and the University of Portland. He retired to his ranch in Yamhill, Ore., where he bred, raised and raced quarter horses for 17 years. During those years he also worked at Cornelius Fred Meyer. He moved to Sherwood in 1997 and in his later years was a Red Cross volunteer.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; sons, Mark (Marilyn Guengerich), and Brian; daughters, Laraine Clark (Terry), Julia Bates (Brannen), and Diana Bates (Bill); grandchildren, Matthew Sykes (Diana), Wendy Doran (Chris), Thomas Clark (Dennine), Leah Dymock (Ryan), Kimberly Solari (Dominic), Michelle Geffert, Devon Riley (Chris), Rebecca Bates (Grant Hamilton); and 18 great-grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Sherwood, Ore. Funeral arrangements are handled by Gethsemani Funeral Home. For further details visit: www.ccpdxor.com

Please sign the online guest book at www.oregonlive.com/obits Published by The Oregonian from Dec. 27, 2021 to Jan. 5, 2022