Walter J. Karkos

Greece: October 10, 2026. Walter was predeceased by his parents, Stanislas Karkos & Eudoxie Boberskyj; brother, Francois Karkos; & daughter, Melanie Karkos. He is survived by his wife, Joyce G. Karkos; children, Michele (John) Noto & Marc Karkos; grandchildren, Michael (Jolene) Noto, Gabriele (Aaron) Gato, & Valerie McCarthy; great-grandchildren, Hayley McCarthy, Noah McCarthy, Briella Gato, Aubrey Gato, Lincoln Noto; siblings, Slawko Boberskyj & Oksana DeVoursney; several nieces, nephews, cousins, & dear friends.

Walter’s life story will be shared during his visitation, Tuesday, October 13th, 3-7 PM at the funeral home, 1411 Vintage Lane (Between 390 & Long Pond Rd.). His funeral mass will be celebrated Wednesday, October 14th, 10AM at St. Lawrence Church, 1000 N. Greece Rd. Immediately following, Walter will be laid to rest in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of sending flowers please share an act of kindness to someone else in Walter’s memory.

The Life Story of Walter J. Karkos

Walter J. Karkos was born in France in 1938 to Eudoxie, who was Ukrainian, and Stanislas, who was Polish. His earliest years were shaped by World War II. As a child, he heard frightening stories about trains, so when his mother had to travel by train, he worried that she might not return.

Walter never forgot the day American soldiers arrived in town in a jeep at the end of the war. While the town celebrated, he and his friends inspected the unattended vehicle and discovered an orange—something they had never seen before. They carried it to a friend’s mother, who carefully divided it so everyone could have a taste. Many years later, at Michèle’s church, Walter met a World War II veteran who jokingly claimed that it had been his jeep. The preplanned ruse gave them both a good laugh.

In December 1955, Walter came to the United States with his mother, Eudoxie; his stepfather, George; his brothers, Francois and Slawko; and his sister, Oksana. He often spoke about the plane’s long journey and its layover. Accustomed to French schools where students could drink beer, he went to the airport bar and ordered one. The bartender, seeing how young he looked, refused to serve him. Walter spoke no English, but he knew how to say “Coca-Cola,” so that was what he drank instead.

When Walter was 21, he met Joyce at her sister’s 16th birthday party. Around that time, Walter and his brother “Frankie” had just gotten a home telephone and were eager to use it, although they hardly knew anyone to call. Frankie suggested Joyce. Walter phoned her and offered to help with the French she was studying in school. That call began a life together. Walter and Joyce married in 1962 and raised three children: Michèle, Marc, and Melanie.

Walter’s trade-school training led to a job at Xerox in 1963. He spent 35 years working in “Final Test” before retiring. In 1965, he and Joyce bought their home in Greece, New York, where they lived for more than six decades. Walter could build or repair nearly anything. He transformed the second-floor attic into two bedrooms, and when something went wrong around the house, a repairman was never needed.

His ingenuity was especially visible in his basement workshop. Walter built a large windmill for the yard, miniature windmills for the house, bird feeders, and a Christmas whirligig. Inspired by a Christmas card, he created an intricately cut, lighted shadow box. He also assembled an elaborate “Big Ben” kit given to him by neighbors when he retired. He even made a mandolin and a dulcimer, taught himself to play the dulcimer, and held late-night jam sessions with a friend on guitar.

Walter brought the same care to his garden. Every year he grew tomatoes, garlic, leeks, peppers, and cucumbers, helping to can the tomatoes and preparing the cucumber salad his family eagerly awaited. In 2026, the garden produced enough cucumbers for dill pickles and enough peppers to fill more than 30 freezer bags. He also built and maintained bird feeders. The cardinal was his favorite, although he enjoyed watching every bird that came for seed.

Food, music, and family traditions filled Walter’s home. His chicken soup and cabbage rolls were considered the best around. He loved speaking French whenever he had the chance, and when anyone mentioned his “accent,” he playfully denied having one. He sang favorite French songs in a small recording studio set up in a corner of the living room, and the family recorded songs together. Always interested in new technology, he made family movies and kept pace as home video moved from reels and projectors to Betamax, VHS, and DVDs.

Walter gave generously of his time. At St. Lawrence Church, he served as an usher, helped count the weekly offering on Mondays, and assisted in building the church playground. He made friends wherever he went and was always ready to lend a hand.

Family adventures were another important part of Walter’s life. When his children were young, he took a month off work to drive west, visiting relatives in Kansas and friends in Colorado. The family traveled to Disney World, camped as often as six times a year with a large circle of friends, and spent time in the Adirondacks. Wherever they went, Walter brought his easygoing spirit, his love of laughter, and his devotion to the people around him.

Walter’s endurance was remarkable. In 1991, he suffered a massive heart attack. His doctor knew of only one other patient who had survived 10 years after such an event, yet Walter lived another 35 years. He later faced diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and cancer, but he remained active and continued overcoming one challenge after another. Even in his final weeks, he still wanted to “do things myself.”

Walter will be remembered as a gentle, kind, devoted, loving, generous, sweet, and wonderfully ingenious man. Joyce and Walter’s neighbor, George, described Walter as his “hero”. He was a devoted husband and father, a loyal friend, a gifted maker, and a generous neighbor. He loved to laugh, to sing, to create, and to help. The many things he built, the traditions he nurtured, and the memories he preserved all reflect the life he treasured most: a life centered on family, friendship, faith, and service to others.