BILLY L. FIKES

Billy LaVoyce Fikes, 81, Big Lake, died Sept. 10, 2010 at Providence Hospital in Anchorage.

A memorial is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday Sept. 19 at VFW Post 9365 in Wasilla, with post chaplain Alex Kraft officiating.

Interment with military honors is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 20 at Fort Richardson National Cemetery. Pallbearers are Billy Fikes Jr., Lewis Fikes, William Fikes, Zeb Kraft, John Fee and James Fee. Honorary pallbearers are MSgt. Douglas E. Patch (USAF/Ret.), Corp. Nicholas M. Kraft, USMC, Alex Kraft, Tracy Kraft, Benjamin Kraft, Mark Hegener, Jody Hegener Cate, Christopher Hegener, Michael Hegener and Shawn Skiles.

Billy enlisted in the U.S. Army on Feb. 12, 1946 and served until Aug. 31, 1966 when he retired in Alaska and was honorably discharged at Ft. Lewis, Wash. He was a veteran of the occupation forces in Japan and the Korean Military Advisory Group, and saw combat with the Second Infantry Division in the Korean War. He retired as a Specialist 7.

Following his military career, he worked as a computer programmer/systems analyst for the Alaska Railroad, Aerojet General (Sacramento, Calif.), and Bonneville Power Administration (Portland, Ore.). In 1974 he joined the staff of Data Center Corp., (Los Angeles) and progressed to vice president before retiring in 1980. Following his retirement, the family moved to Tonasket, Wash., where they built a home and Bill enjoyed the cowboy life until returning to Alaska in 1988.

Billy was active in veterans’ organizations and was a life member of VFW Post 9365, Wasilla; a life member of AmVets Post 11, Wasilla; a member and past post chaplain of American Legion Post 35, Wasilla, and a member of “40 et 8” Locale 816.

He was a pioneer in the field of computer sciences and as an avid reader of science fiction helped turn those fantasies into reality through his work with the air and space industry and the early days of computer communications in the Army Signal Corps, his family wrote. “Billy enjoyed traveling, and both during and after his military career he and his wife, Virginia, traveled the world, sharing their love of fishing, prospecting for gold, and exploring each road less traveled that life presented them, always making sure that road led back to the family and places they loved so much.”

Billy was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Virginia Ellen Burke Fikes (1935-2008), parents Marion Monroe Fikes and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Collins Fikes, four brothers and one sister.

He is survived by five children: Helen Hegener, Palmer; Billy L. Fikes Jr., Meadow Lakes; Susan Patch, Deer Park, Wash.; Lewis M. Fikes, Big Lake; and Sandra Fikes, Big Lake. There are also numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla.