William Stathis Kafoglis

It is with deep sadness and yet with hope in the Resurrection that we announce the falling asleep in the Lord of William Stathis "Billy" Kafoglis. Billy was 86 years old and passed away December 10th, 2017 at 4:12pm in Katy, TX at Memorial Hermann Hospital Katy. We are grateful for the loving care given in the ICU there, and would like to distinguish our love and appreciation to our friend and his personal doctor Seva Papageorge, M.D. who cared for him the last several years and loved him.

He leaves his wife of 55 years, Wanda Fishback Kafoglis, his children, Anna Kafoglis Bjork and husband Paul, Tonya Kafoglis Lemoine and husband Tim, Stathis William Javan Kafoglis and grandchildren, Wesley Stathis Bjork, Tia Brook Nestor, Beryl Christine Bjork, Eleni Katherine Lemoine, Christianna Lemoine, William Timothy Lemoine, and great grandchild Rowan Stathis Bjork.

Born and raised in Lexington, KY, September 21, 1931 to parents Anna Ghikadis Kafoglis and Stathis Miltiades Kafoglis, he lived in Lexington, KY before moving to Houston, TX. Billy married Wanda Fishback April 12, 1962 in Tokyo Japan at the Japanese Orthodox Church while stationed in Okinawa as part of his military service, awaiting a tour of Duty in Vietnam.

In his early years, Billy would spend time working at his Father’s restaurant SK Grill, in Lexington, KY. His Father Stathis, emigrated to the United States through Ellis Island, New York in 1897 from Triglia, Turkey. His parents Stathis and Anna helped found both a Greek Orthodox community in Lexington, KY and a Greek Orthodox Church there, Panagia Pantovasilissa.

Billy was an Eagle Scout, Captain in the Military, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal recipient and practicing orthopedic surgeon for 50 years in Houston, TX. He received his medical degree from Louisville University after receiving his Bachelor’s from the University of Kentucky. He finished his residency in Orthopedics at Charity Hospital in New Orleans after returning from Vietnam. He worked as a surgeon at Rosewood Hospital for the majority of his career.

Dad had a passion for people’s story and their family history. He believed in people and loved them wholeheartedly.

Funeral will be this Friday, December 15, 10 AM at St. Paul’s Orthodox Church, 1717 Katy Gap Rd, Katy, TX 77494, followed by burial at Forest Park Funeral Home & Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077 | 281-497-2330.

Visitation will be Thursday evening, 5-8 pm at Forest Park Funeral Home & Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077 | 281-497-2330

In lieu of usual remembrances, memorials may be made to St. Paul's Orthodox Church, 1717 Katy Gap Rd, Katy, TX 77494.