Laurence Dale “Lon” Sykes, a devoted family man and respected community member, passed away on February 3, 2026, after a long battle with esophageal cancer. He was 90 years old and spent the last moments of his life surrounded by family in Terra Linda, California, where he lived for sixty years.
Born in 1935 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, during the Great Depression, Lon pursued a degree in pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh. While studying, he showcased his musical talent by playing the trombone in the university’s marching band. Upon graduating, he joined the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), dedicating over twenty years of service, ultimately achieving the rank of Captain.
His initial posting brought him to Boston, Massachusetts, where he met his future wife, Ann Sykes. The couple married in 1961, embarking on a journey that included transfers to Claremore, Oklahoma, Savannah, Georgia, and finally to San Francisco in 1966, where they settled in Terra Linda.
While in San Francisco, Lon continued his education at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a Master’s degree in Public Health amid the socio-political upheaval of the late 1960s. He later served as the Associate Director for Ambulatory Care at the USPHS hospital in San Francisco before retiring from the service in 1982. Following his retirement, he returned to his roots in pharmacy, working at Kaiser Hospital in Terra Linda.
Outside of his professional life, Lon was passionate about music and community involvement. He was a longtime subscriber to the Marin Symphony and played trombone for more than five decades with the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Non-Marching Band, affectionately known as the “Sewer Band,” as well as other musical ensembles throughout Marin County.
Lon was known for his meticulous nature, taking pride in his home, vehicles, and garden. He had a keen interest in genealogy, sharing his findings as a volunteer with the Marin County Genealogical Society. His wide-ranging interests included traveling, reading, antique cars, railroads, studying history, and keeping up with current events.
Lon is survived by his devoted wife Ann, his sister Marian Davis, and six children: Janine Tedrow (Scott), Paul Sykes (Elaine), Gregory Sykes (Jesús), Laura Elkurdi (Ghassan), Daniel Sykes (Janet), and Karen Campton (Kevin). He also leaves behind ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren who will miss him dearly.
His ashes will be interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Terra Linda, and the family plans to hold a private celebration of his life later this spring. In lieu of flowers, they ask that donations be made in Lon’s name to the St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. Isabella’s Church in Terra Linda, the Salvation Army, or the American Cancer Society.
Lon Sykes’ legacy as a loving husband, father, and community member will be cherished by all who knew him.
