Joseph V. Sykes, age 88, longtime resident of York, Pennsylvania, died at 7:45 AM Thursday, January 19, 2023, at Wellspan York Hospital. He was the husband of the late Louise “Dedi” (Stallman) Sykes.
Born April 17, 1934, in Bolivar, TN, he was a son of the late Thomas and Tully Ola (Duncan) Sykes. He enlisted and served active duty in the US Air Force from 1952-1956 including time during the Korean War. After his active service, Mr. Sykes remained in the Air Force Reserve for an additional four years until being honorably discharged. Mr. Sykes completed airplane mechanic training at Shepard Air Force Base, Texas, and at Spartan School of Aeronautics, Tulsa OK. After his training, Mr. Sykes worked as an airplane mechanic for Braniff Airlines. It was while working at Braniff in St. Louis, MO that Mr. Sykes met and married his wife, Dedi.
Mr. Sykes relocated with his family to York, PA in 1968 after purchasing what was later named Sykes Garage, an automotive repair business in Dallastown, PA. He owned and operated Sykes Garage for more than 30 years before selling the business and retiring. Throughout his years in York, Mr. Sykes was an active supporter of his wife’s real estate business (acting as her “unofficial assistant”) and her numerous charitable endeavors.
In late 2019 Mr. Sykes returned to Bolivar, TN to live near his brother and sister-in-law, Gerald and JoAnn Sykes. He enjoyed their loving company and companionship for three years before returning to York in early January 2023. He was a member of the VFW, the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Garagemen, and a former member of The Country Club of York.
Mr. Sykes is survived by a daughter, Lydia S. Gemmer, and her husband Baron, of Wayne, Pennsylvania; a son, Charles H. Sykes M.D., and his wife Emilie, of Alpharetta, Georgia; two grandchildren, Katherine Sykes-Martin M.D, and her husband T. Logan Martin MD, and Julia Sykes, and her fiancé Emmett Morse; and three brothers, Gerald, Howard, and Bob Sykes. He is preceded in death by siblings Mary, Margie, Sue, Ruth, Eugenia, Tom, Ed, Bill, and their spouses.
A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00 PM Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Kuhner Associates Funeral Directors, Inc., 863 South George Street, York, with The Rev. Tanya Brubaker officiating. A reception with the family will immediately follow. Private burial will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to WellSpan York Health Foundation- Dedi Sykes Education Endowment, 2500 S. George St., York, PA 17403
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Joseph V. Sykes, please visit our floral store.