Taps: James “Spike” Dyke
Posted on Sep 18, 2014 in Taps
James Alexander “Spike” Dykes, 80, of Vancouver, Washington, passed away on the sixteenth of July, 2014. He was born in Hilo, Hawai‘i on October 16,1933 to John and Jenny Dykes of Scotland. He is survived by his wife, Maria Louise Dykes of Vancouver, Washington. Daughters, Kimberly Marie of Denver, Colorado; Kathy Burdick of Portland (Owen); LeeAnn Larson of Yuba City, California (Michael); Sons, Steven Dykes of Lake Oswego, Oregon (Linnea). Matthew Dykes of Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i. Grandkids Jamie Burdick (New York); Alex Dykes, Portland.; John Burdick of Portland and MacKenzie C. Dykes of (Portland). Brother John Dykes of Gladstone Oregon (Heather) and Sister Janet Martin of Sequim Washington (Larry) Nephews: Gregg John Hall of Honolulu (Belinda) Niece: Barbara Paty of Tacoma Washington (Ryan) and Michael Hall of Portland (Kami). He was a great Uncle and Father.
Born and raised in the Hawaiian Islands. He attended Hilo schools. He graduated from Punahou School on O‘ahu and graduated in Class of 1951. Jim went to the University of Washington and graduated in the Class of 1955. He was a Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity member. Jim received a MBA from Auburn University and also graduated from the Pacific Coast Banking School.
He attended the Air Force Air Command and Staff College. He flew fighters in the Air Force, and Hawai‘i Air National Guard, then helicopters in Hawai‘i, New Mexico, Wyoming and South Dakota Army National Guard Units. Jim received the Broken Wing Safety Award for Demonstrating Outstanding Airmanship on March 4, 1978 by the Hilo Army Guard.
(Spike flew F86s and F-102s with the Hawai‘i Air National Guard from 1960 through 1970. He flew with the Hawai‘i Army National Guard from 1970 through 1983.)
In addition to all this, he served on many Boards as President or as a board member. For instance, he volunteered as a Hospice caregiver at the Veterans Affairs in Washington State and loved carting Vets around the Veterans Affairs Facility. Jim worked with Bishop Trust Company in Hilo and in Artesia, New Mexico as a Trust Administrator. He retired as Head of the Gillette First Interstate Bank Trust Department in 1999.
He was very active in community affairs, was involved with United Way in Honolulu and Hilo. He was an active member and President of the Noon Rotary in Gillette, Wyoming and received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from Rotary. He was a member of the Elks, a Master Swimmer in Hilo and Gillette. He paddled with a Canoe Club in Hilo and enjoyed Substitute Teaching in Gillette where he received the Homer Scott Award for Outstanding Citizenship for the First Interstate Bank in 1997. He looked forward to heading back to be a cook at hunting camp in Wyoming.
Jim was highly respected by colleagues, Pilots, fraternity brothers and many friends and by his family.
I HAVE BEEN A VERY LUCKY MAN ALOHA, JIM
He has been cremated and his ashes will be spread in the ocean off Hilo by his family and close friend, Bobby Vierra. Private Services will be held on September 21, 2014 at the Hawai‘i Air National Guard Flight Operations Center. (Call John Carroll— 526-9111 for details)
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