William E. "Gene" Dykes, 83, of Sugar Valley passed away October 15, 2008. He was born July 30, 1925 in Coffee County, Georgia to Pearl Rutherford Williams and Izaiah Z. Dykes, Sr. He joined the US Army infantry during World War II, seeing combat in the Ardennes Forest at the Battle of the Bulge. He worked in the Parts Department at Anderson Bros. and retired in the early 70's to his land in Sugar Valley.

Survivors include his 3 sons: Bill & wife Mary of Bay City, Curtis and wife Judy, and Jeff and wife Gina of Sugar Valley; grandchildren: Beth Chapman and husband Ron, Travis, Sadie, Matthew, and Michael Dykes; and a great grandson: Keith Chapman. He was preceded in death by his wife: Reta; daughter: Mary Elizabeth; son: Mark Dykes; brothers: Wendall, Ivy Glenn, Clyde, Jimmy and I. Z. Dykes; and his sisters: Sadie Dykes Teague and Gladys Dykes Brawner.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, October 19, 2008 at the First Baptist Church, Hwy. 35, in Van Vleck, TX.