Obituary of Christos Christou, Sr., 1978 - Prince George Co. VA Christos Christou, Sr. Dies of Heart Attack Baltimore City - On Sat. June 24, 1978, at 11:05am, Christos Christou, Sr., 35, died at Baltimore City Hospital of heart attack. Mr. Christou was an employee of the General Motors plant in Columbia, where he had worked many years as an auto checker. He was born Dec. 16, 1942, to the late Dimitrios C. and Athena (nee Stamathis) Christou in Hopewell, VA, where the family lived with his mother's uncle Nick Stamathis during the war. In 1943, they moved to Baltimore to find work at the Bethlehem Steel plant and eventually built a family restaurant business which young Christou worked in. Mr. Christou's father died in 1956 and the mother left with 4 small children struggled to make ends meet and the family business was rented out. He proposed to his future bride Rosemary Beckette on their first date on New Year's Eve 1963. Her father Rev. Clarence E. Beckette did not approve at the time among other reasons because he was 21 and she was 17. Her father asked them to wait until she finished high school and until her 18th birthday. They were promptly married on July 4, 1964. Mr. Christou took various jobs working in a factory making furniture and as a surveyor, before eventually finding work with GM. A succession of children were born in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1970 and 1973. Ill health caused Mr. Christou to receive a pacemaker several years before his death while still a young man. Mr. Christou was well beloved by many friends and family. He considered himself a great pool player, often winning money at the game. He always enjoyed humor and was a favorite of the children. He grew up in the same neighborhood that he lived in and knew everyone. His passing will be greatly mourned by all. Surviving are his widow Rosemary Christou; his mother Athena Christou; mother-in-law Mary E. Beckette; daughter Tammy Rose Christou, sons Christos Christou Jr., Dimitrios Christou, John Mark Christou, and Joseph Lee Christou, all at home. Also surviving are a sister Mary Anna Belcastro; brothers, Emmanuel Christou Sr. and Evangelos George Christou; and a half-sister Catherine Christou. In addition to numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Friends may call at the Matthews Funeral Home on Eastern Avenue Sunday and Monday 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Funeral Services at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 520 S. Ponca St., on Tuesday at 11 A.M. Interment to follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers those desiring may direct memorial contributions to the American Heart Association. Submitted by Christos Christou, Jr. **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************