Jean Eileen Sykes

Jean Eileen “Jeannie” Sykes (neé McWilliams), our beloved “Nana,” age 70, passed away at home on Monday, September 19, 2022. She was born on March 17, 1952, in Columbus, Ohio, to the late Kenneth and Cora (Uncapher) McWilliams.

In addition to her parents, Jeannie is preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband of 46 years, Barry Sykes, whom she never enjoyed being separated from for any period of time.

She will be greatly missed by son Brian Sykes, his wife Angela (King); grandchildren Brianna, Allen, Micah, and Katherine Sykes; brother John McWilliams, his wife Jody, their sons Paul and Ian McWilliams, and their families, as well as the numerous cousins, other family members, neighbors, and friends she leaves behind.

Jeannie had a 37-year career at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She started as a Secretary in 1983 and, while working full time and raising a son, also earned her Bachelor's Degree, which allowed her to move up into Stewardship at the Fisher College of Business. She was widely respected by her colleagues for her hard work, dedication, and wisdom gained from years of experience working within the university system.

Jeannie was a Buckeye through and through, and often was seen showing her scarlet and gray pride on game day, as she attended many OSU football and basketball games with Barry or Brian. She and Barry also attended the Rose Bowl, the Final Four in Atlanta, and enjoyed many years of OSU football and Basketball as season ticket holders.

The only thing that Jeannie was more passionate about than being a Buckeye was being there for her family. She was always there to do what was needed to keep the house running, take Brian to a school event, or cook an amazing dinner on short notice, even when Barry would have to go out of town for work or the evening schedule was unusually jam-packed with something going on (as it usually was).

In her later years, Jeannie and Barry did a lot of traveling, from Alaska, to California, to Mexico, to Canada, to the Caribbean, to Disney World with the kids, and eventually, the grandkids. She always loved the beach, and whether it was the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Kiawah Island, South Carolina, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, or anywhere else, she enjoyed many hours relaxing under an umbrella with a good book, the sea breeze in her face, and sometimes a grandchild or four playing in the sand nearby.

Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST, 1740 Zollinger Road, Upper Arlington, Ohio 43221, where visitation will be held starting at 11:00 a.m., with a funeral service at 12:00 p.m., to be followed by a graveside service and burial at Union Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.

To view Jean's service, click here: https://webcasts.lifetributes.com/1232936