William Lynn Vandyke

Mr. William Lynn VanDyke, 76, of Union City died Monday, January 30, 2023, at his home.

A viewing will be held from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2023, in Rawls Funeral Home Chapel.

Services will be held at a later date in Jackson, MI.

He was born on January 29, 1947, in Villa Ridge, ILL. to the late Cleola and Ben VanDyke Sr. He was affectionately called “Lynn” by his family and friends. He moved to Jackson MI. at the age of six months with family for a better life.

Lynn attended Jackson Public Schools and graduated from Parkside High School class of 1966. His main work career started and finished with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. He held various jobs within the company starting at the Jackson, MI location to later transfer to the Union City, TN facility in 1982. As a role model, dedicated and loyal employee, he retired with nearly forty years of service.

Lynn enjoyed being around family and friends. He seldom met a stranger as he loved to talk. He considered himself a great cook and would brag to family about his super barbeque skills. He enjoyed playing bid whist and thought of himself as being a skilled whist player. Lynn enjoyed reading and discussing political topics. He was sometimes referred to being Mr. Gadget because he enjoyed tinkering with junk and trying to fix it.

Lynn was married to the love of his life, Shelia Sherrod VanDyke for 46 years. He is survived by his loving sons, Abdul and Jamail VanDyke of Union City, TN., daughter, Elizabeth Belew of Lansing, MI., brothers, Benjamin H. VanDyke Jr. of Lansing, MI. and Cecil (Sally) VanDyke of Jackson, MI., twin sister, Wilma (Jeverson) Kelley of Lansing, MI., sisters-in-law, Patricia Brown, Rochelle VanDyke, Bertha Smith of Jackson MI., Edna Sherrod and Pam Sherrod-Smith of Minneapolis, MN., brothers-in-law, Larry Sherrod of Jackson, MI., and Gary (Pinky) Sherrod of Minneapolis MN., five grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Cleola and Ben VanDyke Sr., wife, Shelia VanDyke, brother, James VanDyke and stepfather, Thomas C Smith.

William Lynn VanDyke will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Rawls Funeral Home - Union City 731-885-8110