Gertrude Schartel Sykes

AIKEN - Gertrude Trudy Sykes passed away on March 2, 2017. Trudy was born on April 4, 1926 in Binghamton, NY.  She was a secretary to the Joints Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon in Washington, DC, before she moved to Aiken in 1955.  She worked at Lominick’s Pharmacy, Holiday Inn, and the Metro Spirit.  She enjoyed baking cookies for her grandchildren’s classes and the teachers at Aiken High.  She crocheted more than 75 blankets for the Warup Ladies at the Aiken Red Cross and many caps for the babies at University Hospital Nursery.  Trudy is survived by her four children:  Deborah (Mike) Orsini, Aiken, George Sykes, North Augusta, Doris (Steve) Johnson, Aiken, and Allyson ( Mike) Sides, Aiken; grandchildren: Joe (Melanie) Orsini, James (Michelle) Orsini, Ann (Richard) Orsini, Katharine Sykes, Hugh Sykes, Hunter Johnson, Amanda Watson, Ashley Watson, Matthew Sides, Kyle Sides; great-grandchildren:  Kevin Orsini, Phillip Orsini, Brodey Hice, Gwendolyn Hastings, Adrianna Terry, Annabelle Sides. A memorial service will be held at Shellhouse Funeral Home on Hayne Avenue on Sunday, March 5 at 3:00 PM with Rev. Mike Sides officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donation be made to the Red Cross Warup Ladies, c/o Aiken Red Cross, 1314 Pine Log Rd, Aiken, SC 29803 SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC Trudy’s online guest book may be signed at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gertrude Schartel Sykes, please visit our flower store.