Obit of Sykes, Ruth Clark - Oklahoma County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 1 Jan 2006 Return to Oklahoma County Archives: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ok/oklahoma/oklahoma.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm ========================================================================== :Greenwood Memorial Park--Fort Worth TX Sykes, Ruth Clark 1915 - 2005 Ruth Clark Sykes, 90, passed away Friday, Oct. 28, 2005, in Fort Worth. Memorial service: 11 a.m. Tuesday in the chapel at Ridglea Presbyterian Church, 6201 Camp Bowie Blvd. Burial: (private) Greenwood Memorial Park. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Presbyterian Night Shelter, 2400 Cypress St., Fort Worth 76102, or charity of choice. Ruth Louise Clark Sykes was born Oct. 14, 1915, in Oklahoma City, Okla., to Alma Allinger Clark and William E. Clark. She grew up in Tulsa, where her interest in drama began when she had the lead role in her ninth grade operetta. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in drama, where she was president of Pi Beta Phi sorority, a member of Mortar Board, and was named "Outstanding Senior Woman." She married Colquitt S. "Red" Sykes in 1941 and accompanied him to Hawaii, where he was stationed in the U.S. Army at the time of Pearl Harbor. She worked for the Women's Air Raid Defense Ward (radar) for several years in Hawaii, prior to the birth of their first son in 1944. After the war, the family settled in Fort Worth, where Red Sykes co-owned Chickasaw Lumber Company. Ruth was a dedicated community volunteer and faithful member of Ridglea Presbyterian Church for many years, where she founded the Golden Age Club. She was a member of the Fort Worth Woman's Club, where she often appeared in theatrical productions and presented book reviews, the Beaux Arts Club, and she helped found the Pi Phi chapter at TCU. Ruth was a beautiful, vibrant woman and a bright presence in the lives of all who knew her. She loved her family and friends, travel, books and the theater. She relished and enjoyed life to the fullest. Her graciousness, humor and love of people defined her throughout her life. The family wishes to thank her loving caregivers, Dorothy Kelley, Rachel Martinez, Mary Williams, Melissa Govea and Kathy Govea. She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband, Red Sykes. Survivors: Sons, Laurence E. Sykes of Dallas, his wife, Becky R. Sykes and their sons, William R. Sykes and Thomas S. Sykes, David S. Sykes of Fort Worth, his wife, Margaret P. Sykes and their daughters, Leigh Sykes Taylor and Sarah Sykes Lamensdorf, Daniel W. Sykes of Fort Worth, his wife, Jane H. Sykes, their son, Clark S. Sykes and their daughter, Elizabeth Sykes Johnston; sister, Ethel Clark Saunders of Tulsa, Okla.; many nieces and nephews; and dear friends, Virginia and John Richards of Fort Worth. Published in the Star-Telegram from 10/30/2005 - 10/31/2005. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Oklahoma County Archives: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ok/oklahoma/oklahoma.html