George Nopoulos

GEORGE NOPOULOS

Wilton

George Gus Nopoulos, 95, of Wilton, died Sunday, June 14, 2015, at the Wilton Retirement Community.

George was born March 19, 1920, to Gus (a Greek immigrant) and Mildred "Frankie" (Hudler) Nopoulos in Wilton Junction, Iowa. He graduated from Wilton High School in 1938 and then attended the AIC Business College in Davenport and the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He proudly served his country in the United States Army during World War II. He entered basic training at Fort Bragg, N.C., in 1942, and later was stationed at Tilton General Hospital at Fort Dix, N.J., where he was a medic and worked in the military post office. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

After returning home from the war, he quickly went back to work at the Candy Kitchen that he and his brother, Leo, owned. George became sole owner of the Wilton Candy Kitchen in 1947. George married Thelma J. Soteros on Oct. 30, 1949, in Wilton Junction. He and Thelma have owned and operated the Wilton Candy Kitchen for nearly 70 years. George started working for the Wilton Candy Kitchen at the age of 6, giving him 85 years of service, truly earning George the title "The Candy Man."

George was well known for his unique whistling and singing while dishing up his homemade ice cream. He served and entertained visitors from all around the world including celebrities such as Gregory Peck, Brooke Shields, President Eisenhower, Gov. Terry Branstad and Bill Wundram, etc.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church, Wilton, a 65-year member of the Wilton American Legion Post No. 584, the Wilton Chamber of Commerce and a lifetime member of the Wilton Historical Society. He had also been a longtime member and supporter of the American Soda Jerks Association and lifetime member of the University of Iowa Presidents Club. George and Thelma supported education in Wilton through Partners in Education and maintained and oversaw several scholarships for area high school seniors. Above all, George loved his family and enjoyed the time he spent with them. In 2003, George and Thelma were named the first official lifetime ambassadors of the city of Wilton and served as grand marshals of the Wilton Founders Day Parade.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 19, at Bentley Funeral Home, Wilton. Additional visitation will be one hour before the service Saturday at the church. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 20, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Wilton. The Rev. Mike Agnew of the United Methodist Church, Wilton, will be the officiant. Musical selections will be provided by organist Bev Reuter and vocalist Henry Bentley. Interment will take place at Oakdale Cemetery, Wilton, with military honors by Wilton American Legion Post No. 584. Serving as pallbearers will be Alexander Glatfelter, Tony Nopoulos, Tony Pirrera, Lavern Garvin, Jerry Marolf and Frank Townsend. Honorary pallbearers will be George's many good friends.

He is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 65 years, Thelma of Wilton; his children, Dr. Gus George and his wife, Jennifer, Nopoulos of Phoenix, Ariz., Dr. Peter George and his wife, Kathleen, Nopoulos of Marion, Margaret "Peggy" Glatfelter of Spring Grove, Pa., and Nicholas "Nic" George Nopoulos of Chicago; as well as three grandchildren, Katherine and Alexander Glatfelter and Alexandra N. Nopoulos.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gus and Mildred Nopoulos; his brother, Leo Nopoulos; and his granddaughters, Amy and Megan Nopoulos.

In lieu of flowers or other expressions of sympathy, the family request that donations be made to the Gus G. Nopoulos Scholarship Fund at Wilton High School in George's memory.

George G. Nopoulos will be truly missed by all his family and friends.

Online remembrances and condolences may be left at www.bentley

funeralhome.com.