Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

March 23, 2026

CHARLOTTE – Spiro Charles Hondros died on Monday, March 23, 2026.  He was born January 19,1932 in Clinton, NC to Charles S. Hondros and Maria Zaharopoulos. 

At a young age Spiro, his parents and his sisters, Theodora and Nickie moved to Greece. There, he watched the construction of the new family home in Micro Horio (Small Village), Evrytania, which made a great impression on him. He began elementary school in Greece, growing up as a mischievous youth in his early formative years which fostered his great fondness for life in the village.  During World War II, he and his family lived through the occupation of Greece by German and Italian forces and during this time in Greece both parents had died.  At the end of the war, he and his sisters traveled back to the United States.  They moved back to Clinton to live with their older brother, John, who had stayed in the United States and enlisted in the United States Navy during the war.  John insisted that Spiro get a sound education and he was enrolled in Edwards Military Institute in Salemburg, NC.  Tragically, his brother John died in an automobile accident and Spiro, and his sisters moved to Wilmington where their aunts, Froso Pantazis and Helen Compos lived.   After graduation from Edwards Military Institute, he was accepted to NC State College, enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program, and earned a degree in civil engineering in 1956, as well as a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force.  After serving in the United States Air Force he moved to Charlotte, NC in 1960 and was hired as a structural engineer at JN Pease Associates.  During his years designing and observing the construction of the buildings that he designed, he decided that he could do both the design and construction, and established S.C. Hondros & Associates, Inc. in 1970.   His was the first in-house design/build general contracting firm in Charlotte, which spawned others in other trades and disciplines of construction.  Under his direction, the company constructed hundreds of projects in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.  He continued serving his country as a member of the Air National Guard and retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel after 20 years of service. 

Spiro married Barbara Harmon in October 1963, and they were blessed with two children, daughter, Maria and son, Charlie.  He was a member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral and St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church and was an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Spiro is survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara; daughter, Maria (David) Nelson; grandchildren, Joshua Nelson, Kaylee Nelson, and Lillian Cloyd; sister, Nickie Kleto, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and godchildren.  In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his son, Charlie; sisters, Katherine and Theodora (Xanthos) and his brother, John. 

The family would like to thank Blue Dot Cares and Aldersgate for their assistance to the family. 

Funeral Services for Spiro will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will follow at Sharon Memorial Park.

Because he and his siblings were left orphans in 1943, he identified with youth who grew up without parents and had compassion for those children who were afflicted with serious illnesses, as well as others who were less fortunate. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered in memory of Spiro to St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, Attn: St. Nicholas Fund, 5108 Kuykendall Road, Charlotte, NC 28270 or Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Attn: Altar Fund, 600 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 381.  

May His Memory Be Eternal.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606.  Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.