ROUNDO: Mr. Peter Kikos, husband of the late Leila Elizabeth Bailey Kikos,passed away Saturday morning at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was 95.

Mr. Kikos was born June 7, 1920 in Minneapolis, MN a son of the late Anton and Anksenia Haida Kikos, who immigrated to the United States from Russia and The Ukraine. He was a WWII veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having been on the original USS Yorktown during the Battle of Midway, where he was one of the last soldiers to leave the ship after freeing a trapped sailor. He was a Platoon Sergeant in a Marine Rifle Company during the battle of Saipan, where he rescued twenty natives that were pinned under Japanese fire. As a result he received two Bronze Stars with "V" for his "Leadership, courage, and devotion to duty". He was also designated as a marine "marksman" and "sharpshooter".

After the war, he and his wife founded the Colony Bakery on King Street, and for 37 years they served the Charleston community with baked goods, kosher bread, and delicious candies. The original "Charleston Benne Wafer" was his personal recipe.

Mr. Kikos and his wife founded the Charleston Harbor Bible Church in 1955 and were members there for 36 years. After moving to Round O in 1989 after the destruction of Hurricane Hugo, he became a member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church, and was currently an active member of the Welch Creek Baptist Church. His prayers and his Christian life influenced his grandchildren to become Faith Missionaries, spreading the gospel throughout the world.

He is survived by a son, Peter Kikos (Ulie) of Beaverton, OR, and by a daughter, Rebekah Ann Hughes (Douglas) of Round O. He leaves behind a son-in-law, Joe Spencer of West Ashley, five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Elisabeth Spencer. At the time of her passing in May of this year, Mr. Kikos and his late wife had been married for seventy years.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2:00 PM in the Welch Creek Baptist Church, with visitation beginning at 1:00 PM in the church sanctuary. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the mission fund at Welch Creek Baptist Church. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.parkerrhodenfuneralhome.com. Parker-Rhoden Funeral home of Walterboro is in charge of arrangements.