Gus Sam Poulos

Mr. Gus Sam Poulos, 85, of Chester, South Carolina, passed away peacefully in his home on January 23, 2026. Gus was born on November 5, 1940, in Chester, South Carolina. He was the son of Sam K. Poulos and Efthemia D. Poulos. He grew up on his family’s farm in the western part of Chester County, where he spent his childhood helping his father raise cattle, sheep, horses, and other livestock. From an early age, he quickly learned the full range of farm work—baling hay, plowing, bush‑hogging, and operating a bulldozer.

 Gus attended Wilksburg Grammar School and later Chester High School, where he played on the varsity baseball team. He loved the New York Yankees and admired legends Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. He graduated from Chester High School in 1959. In 1963, Gus enlisted in the United States Army National Guard Reserves, completing eight weeks of basic training and four months of Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Jackson before he returned to the Lockhart unit.

 In 1969, Gus and his brother, Pete, started the Poulos Sportsman Club, a deer and turkey hunting club on the family property in Chester. Hunters from across South Carolina, North Carolina, and beyond came for hunting, fellowship, and to enjoy the outdoors. The club grew into a successful, thriving business that has operated for 57 years and continues today. Gus and Pete also owned and operated the Poulos Pool Room in Lockhart, South Carolina, an establishment with a bar, billiards, and a liquor store. Anyone who knew Gus well has likely heard one of the many fun and exciting stories from his Pool Room days that he loved to tell.

 In 1970, Gus was elected to the Chester County Board of Directors, where he served from 1970 to 1974. He served as Vice-Chairman from 1971-1972. During his tenure, being youngest on the Board, he quickly distinguished himself as a bold, independent thinker – someone who was unafraid to challenge long-standing norms or speak the truth to more seasoned colleagues regarding the community’s best interests. In the late 1970s, he and Pete also operated Poulos Motors located next to the well-known Cyclone Restaurant in Chester.

On May 2, 1976, Gus married Cathy Contos of Atlanta, Georgia. They later welcomed two children – their daughter Timi, and their son Spiro. He and Cathy together attended college classes where they each obtained their South Carolina Real Estate Broker’s License. In the early‑1980s, Gus and Pete entered the video poker industry, forming Poulos Amusements, where they acquired and placed dozens of poker machines in convenience stores throughout the area. They also purchased commercial property on the J. A. Cochran Bypass in Chester, which remains in the family as rental investment property.

On October 27, 1992, Gus and Pete began another venture when they opened Broad River Mart, a Texaco gas station and convenience store in Lockhart, South Carolina. The store served the community for 25 years until their retirement in August 2017. Even after retiring, Gus continued to stop by on a regular basis for coffee, socializing, and to get gas. He often joked that retirement meant getting to do “what he wanted, when he wanted, if he wanted.”

Gus was a Mason and Shriner. He was a Charter Member of the Chester Shrine Club, which he served as vice-president from 1970-1972, as well as a member of the Lockhart Masonic Lodge. He was also a member of the Union Shrine Club and Elks Club. He was a member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Charlotte, North Carolina, and The Adelphotis Arahoviton Karyae, a Greek organization that hosted many events and picnics at its park in Gastonia, North Carolina. He and Cathy were active in numerous social and dance clubs over the years, including the Chester Cotillion Club, Chester Assembly, Union Ballroom Dance Club in Union, South Carolina, and Shamrock Dance Club in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

A hardworking and dedicated provider, Gus was always ready to make a deal. He loved his family dearly and enjoyed attending social gatherings, watching baseball and football games, and traveling. His greatest joy in life came from spending time with his family and being on the farm. Driven, ambitious, and very resourceful, he often described himself as a “wheeler and dealer” in business. He had a great sense of humor, often infused with a bit of playful sarcasm. Gus followed politics closely throughout his life on the local, state, and national levels, always keeping up with current events and issues. He enjoyed helping many local and state political candidates with their election campaigns.

 Gus’s warm spirit and steady presence will be profoundly missed. His legacy of love, hard work, and perseverance will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. His tenacity, loyalty, and strength will never be forgotten.

Gus is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Cathy Contos Poulos; his daughter, Timi Poulos Clack (Alan) of Chester, SC; his son, Spiro G. Poulos (Drewid) of Chester, SC; his three granddaughters, Katerina Poulos, Mia Catherine Clack, and Penelope Poulos; and three step-grandchildren, Whugray Clack, Darby Clack, and Jewells Clack. He is also survived by his sister, Helen Poulos Diamaduros of Union, SC; his sister, Bessie Poulos Vastis of Chester, SC,; his brother and life-long best friend and business partner, Pete S. Poulos (Cathy) of Chester, SC, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Sam K. Poulos and Efthemia D. Poulos; and his brothers-in-law, Ted G. Contos, George N. Vastis, and Gus P. Diamaduros. May His Memory Be Eternal.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Barron Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026, at Wilksburg Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Wilksburg Baptist Church Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Charlotte, NC.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.barronfuneralhome.com