Obituary of George Sam Pangas

George Sam Pangas passed away on October 4, 2019 in his home in Portland, OR . He was born on October 11, 1948 in Sewickley, PA to Sam and Efthimia Pangas. He is survived by his loving wife Bonnie Becker Pangas, his beloved and loyal brother William Pangas and sister-in-law Nita of Conway, PA, his sister Mary Jefferies of Oak Harbor, WA, his son Matthew Hampsey and his wife Karen of New Orleans, LA, his son Eric Hampsey and his wife Maria of Portland, OR, his grandchildren Gabriela Hampsey, Isabella Hampsey, and Miranda Dede, and his niece and nephew Cassie Pangas and Sam Pangas. George grew up in Aliquippa, PA. His parents Sam and Efthimia emigrated from Greece and their Greek culture was a heavy influence in George and his brother Bill's upbringing. George attended Aliquippa High School and then later graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in 1970. It was while attending Penn State that George met his future wife Bonnie and was given the nickname “Zeus” which stuck even to this day. After graduating from Penn State, George moved to Valley Cottage, NY where he was employed as Biochemical researcher. On March 6, 1982, George married his wife Bonnie and moved to Clarks Mills, PA where he helped raise their sons Matthew and Eric. George served on the Commodore Perry school board and the Mercer County Career Center board for several years and also was a school bus driver for the Commodore Perry school district. George was very active in Matt and Eric’s lives attending and photographing their band and choir concerts, baseball games, wrestling matches, and cross country meets. George was also a member and attended Mount Hope United Methodist church where he would often teach Sunday school classes and where he met his dear lifelong friends Shirley Walker and Lyn Braden. After Matt and Eric graduated from high school, George and Bonnie moved to Greenville, PA where George worked for the Greenville City Borough as a building code enforcement officer and then later worked for the Pennsylvania Labor and Industry Department as a UCC Building Inspector. George was also a member of the Calvary United Methodist Church in Greenville, PA. George and Bonnie moved to Portland, OR on October 2nd, 2019 to be closer to family before he passed. A private memorial service is being held in Portland, OR for friends and family members.