Elizabeth Aphia Karkos

FARMINGTON –- Elizabeth Aphia Karkos, 91, of Wilton, died on April 15, 2011, at Orchard Park Rehabilitation and Living Center.

She was born Sept. 27, 1919, in Jersey City, NJ, the daughter of Arthur B. and Florence (Bogardus) Cole. She graduated from Wilton Academy in 1937 and Westbrook College in 1939.

On Oct. 21, 1939, she married Harold Michael Karkos. He predeceased her in 2003.

“Betty,” as she was known over her lifetime, was active in the First Congregational Church, Wilton, and was one of the first women deacons. She also served as treasurer of the Women’s Fellowship for many years.

For over half a century, she was a member of the Tyngtown Club and was a long time member of the Maine Graphics Assoc. and its Century Club. She loved playing bridge every Monday.

In 1949, in partnership with her husband of 64 years, they started Wilton Printed Products, Inc. In 1976, they spun off the silk screen department and opened Wilton Silk Screen, Inc. After retiring in the fall of 1989, they drove their son’s 1939 Buick to California.

She shared her husband’s interest in history, especially the history of Wilton. For years, they collected memorabilia from the area to begin a museum; thus, the opening of the Wilton Historical Society’s Home and Farm Museum. With the dedicated help of many other like-minded enthusiasts, a society and a museum became a reality.

Betty is survived by a son, Stephen A.. Karkos and his wife, Kathleen Foster, and their son, Randall Karkos of San Jose, CA; a brother, Henry B. Cole of Waterford, CT; two grandsons, Michael Karkos and his wife, Leslie, and their daughter, Phoebe Karkos, and Andrew Karkos; a granddaughter, Laura Markarian and her husband, Michael, and their twins, Michael Donald and Lauren Anne and their daughter, Meghan; daughter-in-law, Paulette Berendes and her husband, Leo Berendes; cousin, Carol R. Anderson and her daughter, Valerie Duffy, and her husband, Brian.

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by their son, Donald A. Karkos in 1990.

Elizabeth Aphia Karkos Photo:

Elizabeth Aphia Karkos