Obituary of John A. Karas

John A. Karas fell asleep in the Lord on February 25, 2024. He was born on June 1, 1933, in Ambridge, PA to parents Andrew and Mary (Chupik) Karas and attended Ambridge area schools. Mr. Karas was a United States Army veteran and served honorably in the Korean Conflict.

In 1963, John moved with his wife and family to Brevard County where they owned and operated a motel in Cocoa Beach for several years. He was a charter class graduate of the University of Central Florida and a graduate of Florida Institute of Technology, where he received his master’s degree in Business and Management. He worked at the Kennedy Space Center for 33 years as a supervisor and a contractor Security Branch Manager, retiring from EG&G Florida in October 1998.

He was predeceased by his parents, son Daniel John of Tallahassee, FL, brothers Andrew (Sophia), Rev. Fr. Michael (Kathryn), and Nicholas. He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Joanne (Pastrick); his daughters Christine Karas (Steven McGrath) of Bryn Mawr, PA, and Amy Karas Lane of Pittsburgh, PA; his grandchildren Nicholas and Audrey Lane, and Patrick and Ian McGrath; brother-in-law Harold (Vivienne) Pastrick of Huntsville, AL; sister-in-law Marion Karas of Bowling Green, Ohio; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

John was a devout member of St. Anthony the Great Orthodox Christian Church, Melbourne, FL and a former founding member of St. Simeon Orthodox Christian Church, Titusville, FL.

Visitation will be at Beckman Williamson Funeral Home, 5400 Village Dr., Rockledge, FL on Sunday, March 3, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Funeral service will be celebrated on Monday, March 4, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Simeon Orthodox Church, 3175 Satterfield Rd., Titusville, FL. Private burial service will be at Cape Canaveral National Military Cemetery, Scotsmoor, FL.