Peter George Kampas

Our beloved patriarch, Peter George Kampas, passed away on Monday, March 23, 2015, in Plano, TX, after a long battle with heart and kidney disease. Peter was born on September 23, 1930, in Chicago, IL, to George and Dena Kampas. He was a first generation Greek American. He was proud of his Greek heritage, and he and his wife Sue were well loved members of the DFW Greek Community and members of the Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas, TX.

Peter graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, with a BA degree in Business. He married his soul-mate and partner, Sue Carol Bechtel, on September 2, 1953. They were married for 61 glorious years. After graduation from college, Peter and Sue moved from Des Moines to Ohio where Peter worked at Wright Patterson, AFB. After settling into his job, Peter and Sue began their family which would ultimately reach two boys and two girls: Connie Sue, George Peter, Carolyn Ann and Christopher Peter. After a short venture as an entrepreneur and restaurant owner, Peter took a job with Collins Radio in Richardson, TX. So they loaded up the family in a small English Ford and moved to Plano, TX, in 1967. Peter worked for Collins/Rockwell/Alcatel for a total of 28 years. His wife Sue managed to get a Master’s Degree in Education while raising the family and worked in the Plano School District teaching 7th and 8th grade math. Peter was proud of all of his children and pushed each one to be the very best they could be and all graduated from college.

Sue retired from teaching shortly after Peter retired from Alcatel so they could spend more time together. During their retirement years, they traveled to almost all 50 states and to many countries around the world including Europe and Russia. They also took numerous cruises to many interesting localities around the world.

Over the years, their family continued to grow with the addition of daughters and sons-in-law: Sonny, Ladonna, Timothy and Jenny. Together they have eight grandchildren- Kallan, Courtney, Peyton, Kelsey, Delaney, Kyle, Nathan and Emily and two great-grandchildren Clark and Kade.

His family filled his life with much joy and happiness. He was a loved and respected Patriarch in the truest sense of the word. His favorite time of the year was Christmas where the family would traditionally meet at the Kampas house for holiday celebration and cheers.

You will be dearly missed, “You Old Stubborn Greek”. We look forward to the day when we are united again.

Peter was preceded in death by his parents and his son-in-law, Sonny Seelhorst.