Obituary of George Nick Vlahos

George Nick Vlahos, age 95, passed away on March 4, 2024, surrounded by family in Wake Med Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina.

To his family, he was a loving father, husband, brother, uncle, and godfather. His passion for life and love for the Eastern Orthodox Christian church were never ending, and his ability help others through periods of adversity knew no bounds.

To his community, he was the repairman who brought television into their homes in the 1950’s and the man behind the curtain during church events who kept the intercom and sound system running, even if there was a little feedback while he tuned the systems to produce perfect sound for everyone to hear.

George was born in Andranova (Aspropirgos), Evrytania, Greece on December 7, 1928, to Nick George Vlahos and Katherine Plakias Vlahos. He grew up surrounded by family and friends in a village in the mountains of Central Greece and endured the hardships of the Second World War and the Greek Civil War that followed, before coming to America in March of 1947.

Upon his arrival in America, George worked in his father’s restaurant, the Court Café in Rockingham, North Carolina, and in a local metal foundry until the fall of that year, when he enrolled in Edwards Military Institute in Salemburg, North Carolina. Upon graduation from EMI, George enlisted in the United States Air Force where he eventually attained the rank of Sergeant and served as the Senior Supply Records Specialist at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona.

In 1953, George left the Air Force to attend television repair school at Coyne Technical Training Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He funded part of his education expenses by loading fruit crates into trucks from three to seven each morning before school. In 1955, he moved to Charlotte and founded George’s Radio, TV and Sound Communications, a company which he owned and operated until 2010, when he finally retired at the age of 82. In 1961, George married Catherine Pappas of Bronx, New York, and they lived many wonderful years together. They had one child, Nicholaos, born August 28, 1968. Catherine passed away on August 14, 1983 while awaiting by-pass surgery for a heart condition she developed in the late 1970s.

Throughout his life, George shared so much with each life he touched. He leaves behind as his legacy a wonderful family who he loved wholeheartedly: His son, Nicholaos and daughter-in-law Lee Vlahos, and their son, George (28 years), who is his namesake. His sister, Helen and her husband John Bakos of Charlotte, their daughters, Katherine Cestrone of Charlotte and Renee Keretses of Waxhaw, and their families. His nephews John Pappas of Apex, NC, Alex Pappas of Greenville, NC, Richard Pappas of Huntersville, NC, and their families. He also leaves behind five beautiful goddaughters and their families who were an important part of his life and meant the world to him.

In accordance with Greek Orthodox tradition, a visitation will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, March 11, 2024, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, located at 600 East Boulevard in Charlotte. The funeral service will be at 11:00 AM the same day. Following the funeral service there will be a graveside service at Evergreen Cemetery, located at 4426 Central Avenue in Charlotte. After the graveside service, there will be a Makaria (mercy meal reception) at the Hall of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

Funeral arrangements are being provided by Hankins and Whittington Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers, the family would request donations be made to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Charlotte.