George Soterios Liapis approached death as he did life---with considerable deliberation, and a refusal to be rushed.
He was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, the fourth of eight children. In this large Greek family, his mother depended on him to be responsible, and he was. His sisters looked to their older brother for protection and instruction. He taught them to swim, to collect night crawlers for profit---- and he was their transportation, riding them on his bicycle. They remember fondly all he did for them growing up.
As a young man he worked hard at several jobs. He participated in the Civilian Conservation Corps established by President Roosevelt. Like so many of the Greatest Generation, he answered the call of duty, joining the Navy. His squadron, VB-142, was sent from Whidbey Naval Base to Tarawa in the Pacific where the Ventura bombers patrolled for Japanese submarines and shipping.
During the war years, his first marriage to Shirley Patricia Hagen ended in divorce, but produced two children, Victoria and Steven.
George was introduced to Cleo Mykris by a bachelor friend at a church picnic. They married in 1955, at Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, and were a few months away from their 50th anniversary when Cleo died of a brain tumor. George was a devoted husband and father. Sadly, their only child, Catherine died at age 23 of tuberous sclerosis. Despite the challenges of Catherine’s health, George and Cleo maintained strong family ties, attending Liapis and Mykris family reunions all over the country. They also attended VB-142 reunions in places like San Diego, Nashville, Colorado and Oklahoma. George volunteered tirelessly at St. Demetrios, assisting with general maintenance. He and Cleo were in charge of the Deli during Festival time for many years. George retired after 40 years at City Light as a field substation inspector.
In addition to Cleo and Catherine, George is predeceased by brother, James Laipis, and sisters, Marie Velimesis, and Elizabeth Reamy. He is survived by daughter, Victoria Schweitzer (Dell); son, Steven George Liapis (Mary); sisters, Aphrodite Francis, Athena Theodosopoulos, Flo Shaw, and Betty Tullgren (Bob); sister-in-law, Athena Laipis; grandchildren, Patrick Driscoll, Becky Rivkin, Stephen (Gwen), Alyson, and Andrew Schweitzer, and Rachel and David Liapis (Kristina). George has six great-grandchildren; Nolan and Evan Rivkin, and Jacob, Katelyn, Timothy and Emily Liapis.
Our heartfelt thanks to the Sunrise of Bellevue staff for the care and respect they extended our dad over his year and a half stay.
Memorial service, 11 a.m. Thursday, June 9th at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2100 Boyer Ave. East, Seattle, 98112. Burial at Sunset Hills Memorial Park at 2:30 p.m. Visitation, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 8th. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Tree of Life or All Saints Camp at St. Demetrios; or Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance at PO Box 10426, Uniondale, NY 11555. Further information/ remembrances @ www.sunsethillsfuneralhome.com
Arrangements under the direction of Sunset Hills Funeral Home, Bellevue, WA.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18