1911 – 2003

FARMINGTON – Harold M. Karkos, 92, of Wilton, died Monday evening, Oct. 27, at the Sandy River Center for Health Care and Rehabilitation where he had been a resident since Jan. 29.

He was born March 26, 1911, in Wilton, a son of Michael and Helen (Abbey) Karkos. He graduated in 1929 from Wilton Academy and in 1933 from Bates College. He attended Middlebury Summer School (BreadLoaf School of English) 1935, 1939. From 1933 -1945 he taught at Wilton Academy and in 1939 married Elizabeth A. “Betty” Cole.

In 1945 he became Principal of Strong High School and in 1947 was Sales Promotion Manager at Forster Mfg. Co. in Farmington. In 1949, he and Betty started a printing business, incorporated in 1952 as Wilton Printed Products, Inc.

In 1976, they sold the company, and retained the silk screen department which became Wilton Silk Screen, Inc. The latter business was sold in 1989. In his “retirement”, he was a greeter at the Farmington Wal-Mart from its opening in 1993.

His interests have been varied. He was President of the Maine Graphic Arts Association, President of the Maine Philatelic Society and was the first President of the Wilton Historical Society. He was Second Vice-President of the Wilton/Tri-County Chapter of AARP for many years.

A member, and at one time President of the Wilton Chamber of Commerce, he served as treasurer for several years until he retired in 1996 to become the Chamber’s correspondence agent. He served the Town of Wilton for eight years as selectman and for six years as representative on the school board.

He was Boy Scout Master for many years and was a member of the Wilton Lions Club. He was also a 50-year member of the Wilton Masonic Lodge 156, and was a member of the Wilson Grange since 1928.

In earlier years, he participated in basketball, highlighted by playing with his five brothers as a team for 14 years. His primary sport, since 1926, was tennis. He and Stanley “Huck” Williams started the Wilton Tennis Assoc. in ’34 with the town’s first tournament, attended by 110 participants. A varsity player at Bates his first three years, he carried on his favorite sport as tennis coach at WA during his 12 years as teacher. His contribution to tennis in Wilton was recognized in ’88 by the Wilton Tennis Club’s presentation of a sign at the Academy Hill School courts in his honor.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Betty Karkos of Wilton; one son, Stephen A. Karkos and his wife, Kathleen Foster and their son, Randall Karkos of San Jose, Calif.; two brothers, Merton L. Karkos of Temple and Leo M. Karkos and his wife, Beverly of Orlando, Fla.; grandson, Michael P. Karkos and his wife, Leslie and their daughter Phoebe of Lincoln, R.I.; grandson, Andrew J. Karkos of New Bedford, Mass.; granddaughter, Laura K. Markarian and her husband, Michael of Franklin, Mass.; daughter-in-law, Paulette Berendes and her husband, Leo Berendes of N. Providence, R.I.; several nieces, nephews.

He was predeceased by a son, Donald A. Karkos in 1990; and three brothers, Floyd, Francis “Fat”, and Milan “Mike Karkos.