James Nicholas Paikos

James Nicholas Paikos, age 92 of Tipton died peacefully Sunday, September 18, 2022 at home. He was born June 7, 1930 in Tipton to Nicholas and Sophia (Nicholaithou) Paikos. He graduated from Tipton High School in 1948 and graduated from Butler University in 1952. At Butler, he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

After his time at Butler he proudly served in the U. S. Army where he was stationed in El Paso, Texas and later in Anchorage, Alaska of which he often spoke of.

Jim’s father started the Diana Theatre in 1926 and also had the Ritz Theatre in Tipton as well as the Diana Theatre and Logan Theatre in Noblesville. When his Army service ended he came back to Tipton and rejoined his father in the family business, the Diana theatre. He started working there when he was five years old and continued there until this year. After his father died in 1980 Jim and his wife Martha operated the theatre. His children and grandchildren helped at the theatre.

Jim met his wife Martha Sarantos in Elwood. She was living in Elkhart and they married at St. Andrews Greek Orthodox Church in South Bend on May 18, 1958. They shared 64 wonderful years together. Jim and Martha were blessed with three children; Nick (Christine) Paikos of Tipton, Georgia (John) Schwoeppe of Fishers and Dean Paikos of Carmel. Grandchildren include Grace (Randy) Wright of Reno, Nevada, Isaiah (Amanda) Paikos in Bloomington, Sarah Paikos of Bloomington, Phillip Schwoeppe in Brownsburg, Gregory Schwoeppe in Bloomington, Illinois, Dimitri, Yianni and Sophia Paikos all of Carmel, two great grandchildren, Jacob and Henry Wright in Reno.

Jim is also survived by his sister Syrma Sotiriou in Denver and a sister-in-law Toula Sarantos in Elkhart, cousins in Greece, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many close friends in America.

Jim was preceded in death by a brother and a sister-in-law Larry and Ann Paikos, a sister and brother-in-law Tene (Art) Cheronis and brother-in-law Dean Sotiriou and beloved daughter-in-law Gladys Paikos.

When Jim sold tickets at the theatre and the customers asked for two adult and two children, he would say, “two tall and two small”. He enjoyed talking to people and telling stories about Butler, El Paso and especially Alaska.

When traveling outside of Tipton County, as soon as he reached the county line road and entered Tipton County Jim would say “this is God’s country”. He loved Tipton and his many friends and customers.

Jim was a member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Carmel, the American Legion, Austin Masonic Lodge, Tipton County Historical Society and was a founding member of the Tipton Gun and Knife Collectors Association.

The family expressed much appreciation for the compassionate and excellent care of Dr. Michael Harper, Dr. Dennis Dickos and Dr. Richard Jung along with the Tipton Hospital staff for providing the loving care during his illness.

Funeral services will be Thursday, September 22 at 11:00 a.m. at Young-Nichols Funeral Home in Tipton with Father Gregory Hohnholt presiding. Visitation will be Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Burial with military rites conducted by the Tipton American Legion and the US Army will occur at Fairview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3500 W. 106th Street, Carmel, Indiana 46302.

Please, no flowers due to severe allergies in the family.