Stratton Papakirk

A beloved and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Stratton (Efstratios) Papakirk, 81, of Middletown, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Monday, October 1, 2012. He was born in Polikarpi, Greece on January 18, 1931 to parents, Stylianos and Kyriaki (Christodoulou) Papakyriakos.

Stratton was the 3rd of 5 brothers and immigrated to the United States in 1956 to pursue the American Dream. He was brought to Middletown by his uncle Gus Christy and ultimately made Middletown his home. He visited Greece in 1962 where he courted and married his wife, Georgia. They returned to the US with the joint dream of starting and raising a family.

A natural entrepreneur and a tireless worker, Stratton took on many vocations from peddling an ice cream cart to working at a drycleaner and a snack bar. Along with his relative and lifelong business partner, Nick Georgopoulos, he eventually became the co-owner of several businesses including Christy's Market and P&G Food Mart. Unwilling to fully retire, he worked at Fujitec for several years and, with Georgia, launched the Grecian Delight Restaurant with Nick and Nick's wife, Maria.

He was a man of faith and family. He was an active member of the Greek Orthodox Church, having served as a past parish council member and president. He was also very active with the fraternal Order of AHEPA where he served as past chapter president and where he received multiple lifetime achievement awards including the Cleisthenes Award.

For the last 16 years following his stroke, Georgia always and unwaveringly stood by his side as his caregiver. He passed away the day after their 50th wedding anniversary.

Mr. Papakirk is survived by his wife, Georgia; three sons, Steven (Stamatia) Papakirk, James (Maria) Papakirk and Chris (Christina) Papakirk; seven grandchildren, Kostas, Georgia and Nikos Papakirk, Stratton and Anna Papakirk, and Alex and Mario Papakirk; brother, Kostas Papakirk; several nieces and nephews, Stella Tompoulidis, Maria Langendorf, Demetrios Papakirk, Stelios Papakirk and Kiki Papakyriakos as well as other dear nieces and nephews in the U.S., Greece, Canada & Germany.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Yiannis Papakyriakos, Theodoras Papakyriakos and Fotis Papakirk.

Funeral Service will be held Friday, October 5, 2012 at 10:00 am at Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 2500 Grand Ave., Middletown with Father William Cassis officiating. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 - 8:00 pm at Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home, 3805 Roosevelt Blvd., Middletown with an AHEPA service at 6:30 pm and the Trisagion Service at 7:00 pm. Interment will be at Woodside Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 2500 Grand Ave., Middletown, OH 45044 – OR - Hospice of Butler & Warren Counties, 5940 Long Meadow Dr., Franklin, OH 45005 – OR - Atrium Medical Center Foundation, P.O. Box 8810, Middletown, Ohio 45042.

Funeral Home:
Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding
3805 Roosevelt Blvd.
Middletown, OH
US 45044