James Edward Lykins

James Edward Lykins, age 74, of Bolivar, Missouri went to be with the Lord at 1:50pm on Friday, January 26, 2007 at Cox South Medical Center following a lengthy illness. He was born March 4, 1932, on his mother's birthday, in Salyersville, Kentucky. He grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. At age eighteen he joined the Army and was stationed in Europe during the Korean War. He married the love of his life, Sieglinde "Linda" Frei on September 2, 1953 in Salzburg, Austria. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior in his early twenties. He served faithfully in churches in Michigan, California, Illinois, Utah, New Jersey, New York, and Missouri during his lifetime. He was a deacon for twenty years at Grace Baptist Church in Lombard, Illinois. He was also an active member of the Gideon's International. After retirement, he made five short-term missionary trips to Austria with Greater Europe Mission serving the Lord with his business knowledge. For the past five years he was a member of First Baptist Church of Bolivar. James retired as Director of the Marketing Center for the Veterans Administration after 30 years of service. He started out his career as a supply clerk in a hospital and worked his way up the ranks to his final position. He always gave God the glory for all advancements and recognitions in his career. He was preceded in death by his parents, Florida Patrick Lykins and James Oscar Lykins. James is survived by his loving wife Linda; one son, Jim Lykins, and wife Rosie of Chicago, Illinois; one daughter, Heidi Endres, and husband Craig; four grandchildren, Hannah, Emily, Gretchen, and Matthew Endres all of Bolivar; and one sister, Mildred Turner of St. Petersburg, Florida. James will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, sense of humor, and wisdom. He will be greatly missed by his wife and family, but they have the blessed assurance of seeing him again in Heaven. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00am Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at the Butler Funeral Chapel, Bolivar, Missouri with Rev. Billy Russell officiating. Visitation will be from 9-10am prior to service time on Tuesday. Musical selections will be "Face To Face", and "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" sung by Beth Grabowski with Rose Roweton as the pianist. Burial will follow at Crestview Memorial Gardens in Bolivar. Pallbearers will be Jim Lykins, Craig Endres, Russ Wall, Allen Morris, David Bolton and Larry Stehr. In Lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the Gideon's International in memory of James Edward Lykins. Friends may sign the guest book or send private condolences at www.butlerfuneralhome.com PDF Printable Version

James Edward Lykins

March 4, 1932 - January 26, 2007