Barbara Williams “Bobbe” Dyke, 91, of Solomons, MD and formerly of Lusby, MD and McLean, VA, passed away on February 23, 2018 at the Calvert Health Medical Center.
Born October 31, 1926 in Ft. Clayton Canal Zone, Panama, she was the daughter of the late Cleon Lyle Williams and Martha (Lesan) Williams.
Bobbe graduated from Ashley Hall High School in Charleston, SC in 1944 and from Hollins College in Roanoke, VA in 1948. She married her husband, Kermit Robert Dyke on March 17, 1951 in Ft. Myers, VA. They moved to Calvert County from McLean, VA in 1979.
Bobbe was a docent volunteer for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum for forty years, retiring in 2016. She began her training at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum before the museum opened in 1976, and she continued as a docent and trainer twice a week for forty years. She conducted more than 3,800 tours for VIPs including kings, presidents, celebrities and foreign dignitaries as well as school children from all over America. She was a trainer of docents and a lifetime educator of the public on the history of air travel and space exploration. She had many award winning influences on people visiting the museum. Bobbe was a member of the Solomons Island Yacht Club and enjoyed sewing, needlepoint and crafts.
Bobbe is survived by her husband, Kermit R. Dyke; her children, Robert L. Dyke of Afton, VA, Patricia D. Miller of Durango, CO and Joanne C. Astin of Mechanicsville, VA; and seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Cleon L. Williams, Jr. and Dudley A. Williams.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Asbury-Solomons Auditorium, 11100 Asbury Circle, Solomons, MD 20688 on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hollins University, Box 9629, Roanoke, VA 24020 for the scholarship fund for chemistry majors.
