NEW BEDFORD -- Edward Sykes, 79, of New Bedford died Thursday, May 20, 2004, at St. Luke's Hospital. He was the husband of Cecilia M. (Cubas) Sykes.
Born in Fairhaven, the son of the late Charles William and Marguerita (Morton) Sykes, he was a lifelong resident. He was a member of Grace Episcopal Church. He was a former member of the Canterbury Club and participated in the church bazaar country store.
Mr. Sykes was a truck driver for 38 years, driving for Associated, Schuester and Vallier trucking companies.
He graduated from New Bedford High School and served in the Navy during World War II. He received the World War II Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Area Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Good Conduct Medal and American Area Medal. On one of his voyages, he crossed the equator.
He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 166 and the Sixth Bristol Club and was chaplain of the New Bedford Elks Lodge No. 73. He was an avid golfer, often playing at the New Bedford Municipal Golf Course, Whaling City Club.
Survivors include his widow; a son, David Kenneth Sykes and his wife, Bethany, of Fairhaven; a daughter, Eileen Hensley and her husband, Kim, of North Carolina; two grandchildren, Jason and Rebecca Smale; several nieces and nephews; a grandniece; several great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews; and his sisters-in-law, Carmen Alfonse of New Bedford, Gloria Adao of Roseville, Calif., Dolores and Manuel Lima of Santa Clara, Calif., and Elena and Joseph Ponte of Acushnet.
He was the brother of the late Charles Sykes, Harold Sykes, Raymond Sykes, Walter Sykes and Eva Laime.
His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday May 24, 2004 in Grace Episcopal Church, New Bedford, Ma., with burial in theVeterans section of Rural Cemetery, New Bedford, Ma.