John Lambrou Obituary

John Konstantinos Lambrou, 91, of Greenville, passed away peacefully at home on January 31, 2026.

John was the youngest of five children of the late Konstantinos and Marina Lambrou. He came to the United States in 1950 at 15 years old, settling first in Eufaula, Alabama, where he worked at a diner. He later moved to Greenville, South Carolina, where he built a remarkable life in the restaurant business. He opened the Dixie Drive-In on Poinsett Highway, later became a partner in the Palmetto Drive-In, which opened in 1959 on Laurens Road, and eventually opened the Hour Glass on Laurens Road in 1979. He retired in 1996.

A businessman for nearly 70 years, John loved meeting people and speaking his mind. He was known for his warm smile, strong work ethic, and the way he welcomed everyone he met. He believed deeply in family, hard work, and dedication to his church. John especially cherished his grandchildren and treasured summers spent with family and friends at his home in Paliouri, Greece.

John was proud and honored to be an American citizen, yet he carried his homeland, Paliouri, Halkidiki, Greece, close to his heart.

The family extends a heartfelt thank you to everyone for their love and support.

John is survived by his daughters, Marina Lambrou (Keith Kelley) and Emily Lambrou; and his grandchildren, Gia Boulos (Tage Winberg), Nikitas Giakoumelos, Jackson Arnold (Melghi Arasu), and J.C. Whisonant.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Lambrou, and his son, Konstantinos "Gus" Lambrou.

A Trisagion service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral with the funeral service to follow at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. George Greek Orthodox Church in John's memory, 406 N. Academy St., Greenville, SC 29601, or online at https://www.stgeorgegreenville.org/.

Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of John with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory".