Speros Karas

Speros Karas, 102
Speros Karas, 102 of Ashland passed away on Thursday, July 13, 2023 in Lutheran Village.
He was born in Thisvi, Greece, the son of the late Meletios Speros and Demetra (nee Golematis) Karaboyias.
Speros attended Hfestos Engineering School which was interrupted when the Germans invaded Greece during World War II. He was held a Prisoner of War by the Germans for six months.
Speros came to the United States on May 28, 1951; and began working at the Ashland Restaurant for his uncle and sponsor, Pete Karas.
Soon after his immigration he met the former Mary Delianides of Mansfield. She became the love of his life and they were married on November 28, 1954. Following his marriage he proudly became an American Citizen.
Speros was able to pursue his engineering background at F.E. Myers in 1955. He retired after nearly 30 years in 1983. Aside from his former career, Speros' true passion was repairing both watches and clocks. Besides his own work he repaired watches and clocks for Bear's Jewelry and Bohland's Jewelry stores. He maintained a full schedule of work until the age of 93 when his eyesight became a problem.
He was a devoted member of Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Church where he served proudly on church council, helped with the church festival, and enjoyed heading up the church bingo.
In keeping with his heritage, Speros was a member of AHEPA; and quite an accomplished cook, preparing many Greek dishes and pastries. His favorites were rice pudding, bougatsa, baklava, and spanakopita. He also enjoyed hobbies such as oil painting and playing backgammon.
Speros is survived by one daughter, Eftihia "Ava" Karas of Lumberton, North Carolina; one son, Dr. Meletios Karas of Ashland; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Speros is preceded in death by his loving wife of 50 years, Mary Karas who passed away on May 27, 2005; two sisters, Eftihia Karaboyia, Maria Sotirhos, and his brother-in-law Telemachos Sotirhos.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 508 Center Street, Ashland, Ohio 44805 with Father Michael Ellis presiding. Interment will follow in the Ashland Cemetery. A meal and time of fellowship will follow the committal service in the Legacy Room of the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home. Friends may call Wednesday, July 19, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home. The Trisagion Service will be held at 7:45 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Pathways Hospice, 41 Briggs Dr. Unit 3, Ontario, OH 44906 or Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 265, W. Third Street, Mansfield, OH 44903.
Speros' family would like to personally thank the staff at Lutheran Village for providing loving care to him for the last four years. They would also like to thank Pathways Hospice for their care the last few months of his life.
For those unable to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral home's website at denbowfh.com.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements.