George S. Zilis, 76, an amateur ham radio operator who lived in Naperville for 26 years, died Sunday in Edward Hospital in Naperville. Mr. Zilis was born in Chicago and graduated from the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. A member of Tau Beta Pi, he was an electrical engineer with the Bell telephone system, Bell Labs and AT&T. Mr. Zilis served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. He was an avid gardener and an accomplished photographer who compiled his family history on color slides, said his wife, Loretta Zilis. Other survivors include two sons, Steven and Mark; two daughters, Mary Beth Vanous and Catherine Sawner; seven grandchildren; and two sisters. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Thursday in Friedrich Jones Funeral Home, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville. Mass will be said at 9:30 a.m. Friday in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 26 N. Ellsworth St., Naperville.
