James Roland Dykes

James Roland Dykes was born December 6, 1924 in Farmerville, Louisiana to Aubert C and Ruth Breathwit Dykes. He attended LSU, received a BBA from Tulane University, and a MBA from Harvard Business School. He served three years in the Naval Supply Corps during WW II as a Seabee on Okinawa. Roland established a successful CPA firm in Dallas and practiced with Dykes, Reed, and Mars for 45 years. Two women earned their CPA licenses and joined the firm as partners. The firm is still practicing as Dykes, Reed, Boggs, & Flynn. He enjoyed working with his clients and made many close and lasting friendships. He was active in his Two by Two Class at Highland Park United Methodist Church for 50 years and initiated the John Deschner Two by Two Endowed Scholarship Fund for prospective ministers from the Perkins School of Theology at SMU. Roland loved to play golf and to travel. Along with his lasting friends from work and church, his friends from the travel group were very dear. He was very involved in the arts community in Dallas, serving on the Boards of the Dallas Opera and Theater Three. Working with his wife Virginia Chandler Dykes in her various charitable and educational endeavors, he became a strong supporter of Texas Women’s University and became great friends with others involved with its programs and welfare. Roland was honest and based on deep mutual love and respect. He was a loving husband and father who took great pleasure being with family. Roland married again at age 63 and started the happiest and most fulfilling 23 years of his life, including some outstanding travels. He had three pieces of advice: “Your word is your bond”, “Do a good job”, and “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is”.

Roland Dykes passed away on January 7, 2013. He is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Gloria Meadows Dykes, his brother Aubert C Dykes Jr., and his nephew Aubert C Dykes III. He is survived by his wife Virginia Chandler Dykes; his three sons: James Roland Dykes Jr. (wife Sandy Dykes and sons Travis & Sean Dykes), Ron Chandler, and Chuck Chandler (wife Debra Chandler and twins Penelope and Coulter); his sister-in-law Jean Dykes Brown; his two nieces: Pamela Dykes Freeman and Donna Dykes Brown (husband Buddy Brown); and his two great nieces: Pamby Barfield (husband Derrek Barfield) and Lauren Beitelspacher (husband Shawn Beitelspacher).

A celebration of his life will be in the Cox Chapel at Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane at 11:00 Friday, January 11, 2013 with reception to follow in the Church Parlor. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the John Deschner Two by Two Endowed Scholarship Fund (SMU, Perkins School of Theology, P.O. Box 750133, Dallas, TX 75275-0133) or your favorite charity.