David L. SIKES

SIKES, David L.

1933-2013

A native of north Texas, he was born and raised in a little community nestled along the Red River, known as Carpenter's Bluff. He attended a local 2-room schoolhouse until the age of 13, when he moved to the nearby town of Denison, Texas. He graduated from Denison High School in 1950. After high school he worked as a machinist, making items for the war effort. In 1952 he married Margaret Ann Hairsine, and six months later, he was drafted and spent the next 2 years in Korea. After being discharged he moved to Austin and began studying electrical engineering at the University of Texas. He highly valued education, and his own notable ingenuity and aptitude soon kick-started a 25-year career in the University's Center of Nuclear Studies, in the Fusion Research Center. After retirement he built a house in Pagosa Springs, Colorado where he and his wife spent their summers for 25 years; dividing their time between Colorado and Austin. David and Margaret enjoyed 61 years of marriage together. Throughout his life, he was involved in many civic activities. He served as a vestry member for a local church, a founding member of Trinity Anglican Church in Pagosa Springs, a precinct chairman, election judge, Cub Scout Master, McCallum High School booster club president and little league coach. He was also a member of Parsons Masonic Lodge for many years, and a founding member of the Brentwood Neighborhood Association; he proved instrumental in many upgrades in the Brentwood area, including Brentwood Park's basketball court. He was a member of St. Francis Anglican Church in Austin. He is succeeded in life by: his wife Margaret, brother Jerry, children Barry and wife Kristy, Larry and wife Marsha, Aaron and grandchildren: Evan, Annie, Avery, Fallon, Julia, Victoria and Kara. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 5:30 until 7:30 in the evening, on Friday, the 4th of October 2013, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas Funeral services will be conducted at one o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 5th of October 2013, in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas. Interment will follow in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Cook-Walden Funeral Home Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.