William (Vasilios) and George Stoukides were born in Mikro Papingo, Greece on August 13, 1913 and July 1, 1916 respectively. As teenagers, they immigrated to the United States with their father Megaklis Stoukides, leaving their mother and three siblings in Greece. William and George became naturalized US citizens and would periodically visit Greece over the years.
In 1942, William, at the age of 29, and George, at the age of 26, enlisted in the army to fight for their new country. William served in the Asian Pacific Theater Campaign specifically in Okinawa while George served in the European Theater Campaign and was part of the D-Day Normandy Invasion on June 4, 1944, with later serving in Germany. Both brothers were honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant and received numerous medals and ribbons for their gallant service.
At the end of World War II, William returned to Greece to reunite with his wife Anastasia (nee Ioannidis), who he married before the war, and ten-year-old daughter Octavia whom he hadn’t met until then. William and Anastasia would go on to have three more daughters, Theodora Kapos, Thea Mancini, and Roxanne Gordon. Upon his return home, George married Helen (nee Mouzas) and became a father to Michael Stoukides, Katherine Chrystie, Mary McNulty, and Dr. John Stoukides.
After the war, William and George owned and operated The Fairlawn Pasty Shop and Stoukides Realty in Rhode Island for nearly 40 years. Their life of service continued after the war as they supported causes that demonstrated their pride as Americans and as Greeks. Both brothers were active members of The Assumption of the Greek Orthodox Church in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. William served on the board of trustees and building committee for the new Orthodox Church alongside his friend Vasilios Haseotes. Additionally, he served as President of the American Legion, President of the Olympia Chart Order of AHEPA, and as Commander of the Hellenic Post. William received the St. Andrew Medal for Meritorious Service and Clergy Laity Award from the Diocese of Boston for his commitment to his church and community. Both brothers were members of the Palestine Shriner Temple and served as 32 Degrees Masons with George being a Grand Patron alongside his wife Helen, as a Grand Matron. George and William were members of the Jenks Lodge, The Scottish Rite, Queen Ester Chapter #2 Order of the Eastern Star, and the Swords of Bunker Hill.
George passed away at the age of 72 in 1989 and William passed at the age of 95 in 2008. Both were blessed with many grandchildren and cherished the life they built in the United States while honoring their country of birth.