William Andrew Poulos

William “Bill” Poulos, 89,  was born on January 30, 1935, of immigrant parents from Greece, on the Northwest side of Chicago where he spent his childhood and young adult years.

He graduated from Lane Tech High School and continued his education at Wright Junior College before enlisting in the United States Army.  After his years of service in the Army and 2 years of college at the Illinois Institute of Technology, he became employed with Western Electric as a telephone engineer (draftsman).  For 30 years, he continued his work with Western Electric, now known as AT&T, eventually working as an electrical engineer. One of his proudest accomplishments was being a part of the team that engineered the satellite that connects communication for the East and West sides of the world. He retired at the early age of 55 due to his diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.

Bill married his beautiful wife, Helen (nee Aquino), in 1963, whom he loved and admired so dearly. Together, Bill and Helen raised their two daughters, Dr. Christine (Brent) Poulos-Halstead and Helen Marie (John) Ellis in Park Ridge, IL, where they resided for many years.

He loved golf and to play baseball which he played in his youth and for the U.S. Army. In his spare time, he enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs, spending time in the sun landscaping, gardening, or just “sunbathing”, and planning vacations to tropical places such as Florida’s popular beach destinations. In his retirement, he cruised many seas with his wife of almost 61 years and accompanying caregivers.

Bill loved his daughters more than anything in the world. He was known for showing people their pictures and sharing that they were “half Italian and half Greek”, in the proudest of ways!  He was further blessed with three beautiful grandchildren, Justin Yury (21), Erica Marie (21), and Gabriella Christine (17).

Bill was called home into the Lord’s hands after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis on January 30, 2024, his 89th birthday, in the comfort of his home with his loving wife by his side.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Elizabeth; sister, Kaliope (Kally) Darras; and brother, Gus Poulos. Along with his wife and daughters, Bill is survived by his sister, Mary Schlau Poulos.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Multiple Sclerosis foundation , 6520 N. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309-2132.

Visitation will be held on Monday, February 5 from 3pm – 8pm at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 149 W. Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010. Visitation will continue on Tuesday, February 6 at St. Peter Damian Catholic Church, 131 S. Crest Ave., Bartlett, IL 60103, beginning at 10am until the time of Mass at 11am. Entombment to follow at All Saints Catholic Cemetery, 700 N. River Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60016.