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| Posted on Wednesday, July 31 @ 00:00:03 PDT |
On July 30, 2024, Nick passed away with his family by his side. Nick was a devoted loving husband to his wife, Debbie; father to his daughter Nicole (Brad) Coleman; stepfather to Derek (Miranda) Zoladz and Shawn (Doni) Zoladz. Grandfather to Jaden (Karras-Coleman) DeWees; Jonah and Jace Coleman and Remi, Tilli, and Ada Zoladz. Also surviving him is his brother, John (Alia), niece Kimberly and nephew Chris, first cousin John (Mindy) Valan and many cousins and relatives in Florida and elsewhere. Also, Nick’s ex-wife and friend, Jane Karras. Finally, Nick’s loving cat, Grayson. Nick was born on November 8, 1942 to Michael N. Karras and Betty Valan Karras at the North Wheeling Hospital. He attended Triadelphia High School and graduated with a Bachelor of Science from West Virginia University. Besides working summers for Karras Painting, Nick played all sports and was one of the original founders in 1959 of the Turkey Bowl Football Game on Thanksgiving Day at Mac’s Field in Pleasanton. Following college, Nick began his career in construction and painting working as a regional manager for Madias Painting in Cleveland, Ohio. During this period, Nick was involved in many major downtown projects- Erieview Tower, Investment Plaza, Cleveland Clinic expansions and the Gold-Coast High-Rise Winton Place in Lakewood.
While in Cleveland, Nick watched the Cuyahoga River catch on fire, experience the Hough Riots, and witnessed the first black mayor (Carl Stokes) elected to a major city. Nick also married Jane Helbert, a Cleveland Public School Teacher and moved to the 20th floor of the Carlyle Apartments on the shore of Lake Erie in Lakewood. In early 1970, Madias Painting expanded to Columbus, Ohio with the building boom in downtown Columbus. Nick was involved in painting the Borden Building, Motorist Mutual Building, Ohio Bell Tower and State Office Tower, to name a few. In 1973, Nick returned to Wheeling and incorporated Karras Painting Inc. with his brother, John, who was also a West Virginia delegate and later State Senator. In 1977, Nicole was born and Karras Painting Inc. continued growing with projects like the Wheeling Civic Center, WesBanco Tower and Ohio County new school construction. Through the years, major projects including Wheeling Downs, West Liberty Athletic Center, Wheeling University projects and most Highlands construction including the Sports Center were completed. In 1998, Nick married Debra (Langsdorf) Zoladz who had two sons, Derek and Shawn, in school. Following- Nick’s semi-retirement in 2012, Shawn has continued ownership of the 3rd generation of Karras Painting LLC which was started in 1942.
Nick has served as a director on the Ohio Valley Employees council, Project Best, Building Trades Welfare Fund, Belmont Hills Country Club, and St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church. Other organizations include WVU Alumni Association, Elks, Eagles, St. Clairsville and Wheeling Chamber of Commerce, Kappa Alpha Order Fraternity, Wheeling Country Club (25 years), Ahepa, and Cancer Society. Contributions may be made to: St. John Divine Greek Orthodox Church or Valley Hospice Liza’s Place at TMCFunding.com Family and friends will be received on Friday, August 2, 2024 from 4:00pm until 7:00pm at Care Funeral and Cremation Specialists, 204 W. Main Street, St. Clairsville, Ohio. Trisagion Service at 6:00pm. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 10:00am at St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church, 2215 Chapline Street, Wheeling, West Virginia with Father Demetrios Tsikouris officiating. Immediate burial to follow at Union Cemetery, St. Clairsville, Ohio. Please share your thoughts and memories of Nick with family at carechapel.com
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