Edwin Meredith Sykes

Edwin Meredith Sykes, Jr., M.D., died on December 24, 2013 in San Angelo, Texas. He was born September 12, 1917, in San Antonio, Texas, the son of Dr. E. Meredith Sykes and Mary Greenhow James Sykes. He graduated from the Alamo Heights School system;, received B.A. degree at the University of Texas (Austin) and in 1941 the M.D. degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston). While an intern at Grace Hospital in Detroit, he volunteered for military duty on December 8, 1941, and served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, 1942 – 1945. While stationed in the hospital at the Army Air Force Bombardier School in San Angelo, Texas, he met beautiful Elizabeth Ragnhild Tweedy.They were married January 29, 1944, in San Antonio, Texas.He served in the European Theater during World War II, receiving the Bronze Star Medal and four campaign Stars (Normandy, North France, Rhineland and Central Europe).His overseas unit was the 48th Field Hospital.

Immediately after the War he taught Anatomy in Galveston, then completed his surgical training in Detroit. In 1951 he began the practice of surgery in San Antonio. He retired from private practice in 1983, then served as Staff Surgeon in the Outpatient Clinic of the Audie L. Murphy Veterans Hospital, San Antonio, Texas.He retired from medical practice in 1990.

Dr. Sykes was Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical School at (San Antonio); Diplomate, American Board of Surgery; and Fellow, American College of Surgeons. He was elected to membership in the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma; and the Texas Surgical Society. He was a member of the Bexar County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association, and the American Medical Associations. He served as president of the Dental-Medical Staff of the Bexar County Hospital District, the San Antonio Surgical Society, the South Texas Division of the American College of Surgeons, and the P.I. Nixon Medical History Society. Dr. Sykes was Council Chairman of the Texas Surgical Society.

He attended the Episcopal Church, in which he served as vestryman, lay reader, acolyte director and Sunday school teacher. In retirement he followed his interest in genealogy and wrote a history of the Sykes family, entitled “Faith in Education”. He also compiled the letters he wrote to his wife and family during World War II in a book entitled “War Letters Home”. He was a member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas and the Society of Mayflower Descendants.He was a member of the San Antonio Country Club, San Antonio Torch Club, Mensa, Conopus Club, Kappa Sigma undergraduate and the AKK medical school fraternity.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Elizabeth R. Tweedy Sykes; a son, Thomas James Sykes; and a sister, Maria Margaret Sykes. He is survived by a brother, John Herndon James Sykes, M.D., and by four children: Anne Bayard Sykes Reese and husband Morris Marcus Reese, Jr.; Edwin M. Sykes III; Mellick Tweedy Sykes, Sr., M.D. and wife, Barbara Taylor Sykes; and Andrew (“Drew”) Greenhow Sykes.

He is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Sally Sykes Brainard and husband Jay Owen Brainard, Jr.; Elizabeth Nickelson Reese Haine and husband Christopher John Haine; Edwin Meredith Sykes IV; Rachel Lantrip Reese Trulove and husband Michael Andrew Trulove; Taylor Meredith Sykes Bowles and husband William Hargrove Bowles; Elizabeth Anne Sykes Rains and husband Charles Brent Rains, DVM; Mellick Tweedy Sykes Jr. and wife Amanda Bashara Sykes; Mary Janice Moody Sykes; James Maestri Sykes; and Anne Riordan Sykes.

He is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren: Jay Owen Brainard III; Ainsley Dahl Brainard; Reese James Trulove; Reagan Elizabeth Trulove; Zachary O’Byrne Haine; Samuel Morris Tweedy Haine; August Marcus Haine; Madeline Elizabeth Rains; Lucy Tweedy Bowles and Frances Springs Bowles; Mary Maestri Bowles; Riley Taylor Sykes; and Blake Tweedy Sykes.

Like so many men of his age, Ed Sykes was truly a member of the “Greatest Generation”. He served his country during World War II with great fortitude, bravery and determination. After the war he returned to his beloved family and his medical practice. At a time when doctors made house calls, were expected to be available at all hours, and payment was sometimes a bushel of pecans. His time was rarely his own. However, his hard work in the service of family,patients, colleagues, country and community were truly gifts of love. His decency, kindness, respect for education, sense of responsibility, and of honor remain shining examples for all who knew him. He will be truly missed.

We wish to thank the staff at The Springs Special Care Center and Odyssey Hospice for the wonderful help and care that they gave to our father.

A Memorial Service will be held in San Angelo, Texas at 1:00 pm, Friday, January 10th

at Emmanuel Episcopal Church with Father Bob Hedges officiating. A reception will follow at the home of Anne and Morris Reese, 826 West Avenue H, San Angelo, TX.

Interment Services will be held in San Antonio, Texas at 1:00 pm, Saturday, January 11th at Mission Park Burial Park South, 1700 S.E. Military Drive, with the Rev. Dr. Jane Patterson

officiating. Family and friends are all welcome. A reception will follow at the home of

Mac and Barbara Sykes, 307 Lamont, San Antonio, Texas.

Memorial donations may be made to Tom Green County Historical Society, P.O. Box 5602, San Angelo, TX 76902; or Texas Surgical Society, c/o Dr. Ronny Stewart, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., Dept. of Surgery, MC 7840, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900; or a charity of your choice.