William Copses

William “Bill” John Copses was born 25 March 1934 in Karyes, (“Arahova”) Lakonia, Greece to John and Trisevyeni Kopsiaftis (Copses). He immigrated to Canada in 1951 and became a pastry chef while working at his uncle’s restaurant. On a visit to Greece in 1958, he met and married, Stavroula (“Loula”) Kiousis in Sparti with whom he had three children. In that same year, he opened his first restaurant in Toronto, Ontario. Driven to succeed, he simultaneously earned his real estate license.

In 1967, wishing to be nearer to family, Bill and Loula moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina where they opened the Piedmont’s first fine dining restaurant, the Four Seasons. In 1977 they went on to open the landmark restaurant Le Baron where he and Loula offered classic European cuisine in an elegant atmosphere for over thirty years.

Bill was a member of several service organizations including AHEPA, Adelphotis Arahoviton, and The Rotary Club of Spartanburg, where he was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a member of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.

Besides his love of cooking, he was an avid wine maker and distiller. He was also an ardent outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, and gardening. Most of all, he enjoyed his family, the company of friends and storytelling.

Bill is survived by his wife of 64 years, Loula, his three daughters, Teresa, Sophia and Ioanna, his two grandsons, William and James, as well as one brother and sister-in-law, Peter and Voula Copses, a sister, Helen and many nieces and nephews whom he loved and who loved him in return. He was preceded in death by his sisters Dimitra Siarris, Panayiota Diangikes and Konstantina Georgas.

Bill Copses was a Titan among men and will be missed by all who knew him.

May his Memory be Eternal!

Visitation will be 10:00 – 11:15 am Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 697 Asheville Highway, Spartanburg, SC 29303. A Funeral service will be at 11:30 am, at the church, conducted by The Rev. George F. Nayfa. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Road, Spartanburg, SC 29307.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Spartanburg Regional Home Care & Hospice, P.O. Box 2624, Spartanburg, SC 29304, Mobile Meals Service, P.O. Box 461, Spartanburg, SC 29304, or St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1107, Spartanburg, SC 29304.

Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel