BRADFORD: William V."Bill" Lucas, 95, died Sunday, May 30, 2010. He was the husband of Eva P. (Pastis) Lucas.
Born in Mendinitsa, Greece on January 1, 1915, he was the son of the late Vasilios and Sylvia (Tranganides) Loucopoulos. Bill resided in Haverhill, since arriving in America at the age of six. He attended the Greek American School and was a graduate of Haverhill High School class of 1934. He was also a graduate of the Kenmore School of Pharmacy and became a licensed pharmacist. He was the owner of Steven's Pharmacy in Haverhill at Railroad Square for over forty years.
He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He served in the 8th Army Air Corps and attended the Embry Riddle School of Aviation in Miami. He was stationed in England before being honorably discharged in November 1945.
Bill was an active member of the Holy Apostles Sts. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church, where he served as President of the parish council for many years. He was the founder of the Haverhill Chapter of Deborah Hospital of New Jersey, a facility that provided free care for pediatric cardiac patients. Bill was the recipient of many awards which included the Ahepa Acropolis Chapter 39 "Man of the Year Award" in 1958, the Hellenic Theatre Guild Award in 1986 for producing and directing various plays and the Diocese Laity Award in 1989 from the Bishop of Boston. Bill's biggest accomplishment from conception to completion was the Ahepa home and apartments in Haverhill.
In addition to his loving wife of sixty-three years, he is survived by three children and their spouses, Charles P. and Linda Lucas and Barbara L. and Dennis Brown all of York, ME and William P. and Rhea Lucas of Laurel, MD; six grandchildren Greg and Alyssa Brown, Christopher and Ashley Lucas and Billy and Diana Lucas; a sister, Helen and her husband William Kaltsas of Cape Coral, FL and several nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his daughter, Barbara Angela Lucas, two sisters, Jenny Manias and Effie Drakopoulos and three brothers, George, Peter and Charles Loucopoulos.
His funeral service will be held on Wednesday in the Holy Apostles Sts. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church, 154 Winter St., Haverhill at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be held today (Tuesday) in the Linnehan-Grondin Funeral Home, 129 Kenoza Avenue, Haverhill from 3 - 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Ahepa Chapter 39, 20 Buttonwoods Ave., Haverhill, MA 01830 or to the Holy Apostles Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church, 154 Winter St., Haverhill, MA 01830. Interment with military honors will be held in the Linwood Cemetery, Haverhill.