Obituary of Kenneth Bryant "Ken" Sykes

Kenneth Bryant “Ken” Sykes, 70, of Greensboro, NC passed away on Thursday, October 5, 2023.

Ken grew up in Portsmouth, VA in a family of five children, two boys and three girls. He was the husband of Ann Worley Sykes and the son of Everette Randolph Sykes, a WWII Navy Veteran, and Zeaulene Bryant Sykes, both deceased. Ken was awarded a scholarship to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1971 and served the U.S. Navy for twelve years on ships in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. He was first and foremost a “Navy Man”. Ken loved his time in the Academy and graduated in 1975 with an engineering degree. He reached the rank of Lt. Commander and then decided to leave the Navy in 1987. Most of Ken’s career, from that point, was in manufacturing in quality control, facilities, training new employees in all areas of the plants. Ken believed in God, Country, and family. He loved Naval History, military history in general, and American History. WWII was his favorite time period of history.

He had a love of many sports, baseball, the Yankees and other Minor League teams; College and NFL Football, where the NAVY and Dallas Cowboys were his favorites; NASCAR; golf; the Olympics; and horse competitions and racing. Ken loved family gatherings with his family and extended family and friends. He was a great cook and many remember his cupcakes for sporting events.

Survivors include his wife, Ann Sykes of the home; brother, Wayne Sykes and wife Samantha Lynn Sykes of Chesapeake, VA; two sisters, Nancy Vaderson and husband, Gary of Chesapeake, VA, and Betty Long and husband, Jimmy of Leesburg, FL; and several nieces and nephews and their children in NC, VA, and IL.

In addition to his parents, Ken was preceded in death on April 26, 2023 by his sister Paula Abbott of Portsmouth, VA.

A memorial service celebrating Ken’s life will be held at 2:00PM Sunday, October 29, 2023 at the Guilford College United Methodist Church, 1205 Fleming Road, Greensboro, NC 27410.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans https://www.dav.org

Friends and family may offer online condolences at www.piercejeffersonfh.com