Andy Panos and Dena Panos passed from this life into the next the way they lived – together. From the day they met, they have done everything together, from remodeling their homes, raising Patty, to opening their first Jolly Boy hamburger stand to enjoying a long retirement and travels together. Andy passed away on August 21, 2022 and Dena on August 22, 2022.

Andy was born on November 20, 1923 in Kansas City, Missouri, and moved with his parents and siblings to the Vernon area to farm. When the war broke out, Andy volunteered even though he could have received deferments for both his heart condition and the fact that he was working as a machinist, an essential profession for the war effort.

He was deployed in England with 303rd Hells Angels Division of the Eighth Air Force, and flew 23 missions over Europe before being shot down and captured in Germany and transferred to a stalag in eastern Germany. In the winter of 1944, the men were marched out of the stalag, told they were going on a work detail, and not to take anything with them. That was the beginning of the Bavarian Death March, where 7400 POWs were marched through the Bavarian Alps during one of the coldest winters in history to get them away from the advancing Russians. In April of the next spring, only 1700 of the men were left when they were liberated by the British. Andy is a survivor. He was discharged with multiple awards for valor.

After the war, Andy farmed, worked in the lumber business, and with an introduction from his best friend, started corresponding with a young woman in Greece. After corresponding for a while, Andy traveled to Greece to meet her. They were married on May 23, 1954 in Zevgolatio, Greece, near Corinth, and moved to the Los Angeles area. In the succeeding years, they sponsored multiple family members to join them in the United States.

Dena was born in rural poverty in the Corinth area of Greece on August 7, 1934, into the most difficult of unrestful situations. As a child she experienced the hardships of the Second World War, occupied first by the Italians, then the Nazis, and then enduring the consequences of civil war in the country. Dena joined the family working in the fields to survive at an early age, ending her education in early grade school.

Her life took a Cinderella turn when Andy came over to meet her, and they decided to marry and move to California. She threw herself into her new life, contributing to married life as a homemaker, and working in dressmaking and other work outside the home to help them get established. Together, with his sister Jeannie and brother-in law George, they opened their first Jolly Boy hamburger stand in Bell Gardens, California in 1962. Later, they opened a second in Huntington Park.

Together, Andy and Dena had a long, comfortable retirement, taking cruises, traveling to Greece, making pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Moving to Downey in 1995, they became active members at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church. They are survived by their daughter Patricia, son in law William, grandsons Aaron, Anthony, Andrew, and Gabriel, and seven wonderful great grandchildren.

Services at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Downey, CA. Trisagion at 7pm on Tuesday, September 6, 2022. Funeral service at 10:30am on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, followed by the Makaria and interment at Rose Hills Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation to Saint George Greek Orthodox Church, Downey, CA, or the Alzheimer's Association ( alz.org ).

Arrangements under the direction of Chapman Funeral Homes - Mary Harmon, owner. Toll free (855) 628-0447.

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Obituary notice for Chapman Funeral Homes. Please visit www.chapmanfuneraldirectors.com .

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