Harry L. Pappas was born and raised in Los Angeles. He was the oldest son of Alexios and Paraskevi Papadopoulos. The family included two brothers, Mike and George, and one sister, Katherine, who together comprised one of the earliest Greek-American families that immigrated to Los Angeles. You can bet that Harry and his family, not only were a part of that rich history, but they also knew who else was a part of it as well.

Harry's early education consisted of graduating from Los Angeles High School, then onto a Bachelor of Science Degree as a civil engineer from the University of California at Berkeley, and finally culminating with post-graduate work at Caltech in Pasadena.

Upon completion of his education, Harry became an Engineering Consultant for the California Shipbuilding Corporation at Terminal Island, which meant that he was involved in the work and completion of the Liberty Ship Fleet.

Then, the Second World War broke out in 1941 and Harry, because of his collegiate engineering degree, became a Lieutenant of the Army Engineers. With the invention of Radar by the British Allies, Harry received a crash course in radar and sonar by Naval Intelligence at the Naval Academy in Monterey, California. He became an instructor for the United States Naval and Air Force pilots at Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay teaching them how to use radar efficiently during the early war years. In effect, he was one of the early professors of Radar for our pilots during the Second World War.

Upon completion of his Naval duties and with the war ending, Harry returned back to Los Angeles to be with his mother, brothers, and sister. He began his career as a produce wholesaler with California Produce Wholesalers, which he grew into a successful business until he retired in his 90s.

Harry's devotion to the Greek Orthodox Church and the early San Julian Church in Los Angeles were always important to him and his family. He served as an altar boy and psaltis. When Saint Sophia was founded in 1952, Harry served as a Board of Director for five years and later as Secretary.

Harry met Agopie Poulos of Phoenix, Arizona, at an AHEPA Convention in 1945. Instantly, Cupid's arrows hit the two of them and four years later they had one of the biggest Greek weddings the state of Arizona had seen up to that time. They settled in Downey, California, and had 3 children: Alex, Kathryn, and Jim; all of whom are married and have given them grandchildren.

Harry's social life revolved around family, church, college alumni, the Sportsmen (a Greek-American golf/social group), and, maybe most importantly, his 3 golf memberships at Bel-Air Country Club, Wilshire Country Club, and The Springs Country Club in Rancho Mirage. During those years, along with both of his brothers, Mike and George, he participated with golf professionals in several Hawaiian Opens and Bob Hope Golf Classics.

Harry's and Agopie's retirement life consisted of 30 years at Rancho Mirage, in which he co-founded the Telly Savalas Hellenic Golf Classic. While in Rancho Mirage, Harry and Agopie made lifelong friends from all over the country.

Harry and Agopie where great enthusiasts in traveling the globe, which included maintaining ties with their families in Greece. Whether traveling with family, friends, or by themselves, they were always planning their next trip.

Through his lifetime, Harry received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in New York given to sons and daughters of immigrant families; was bestowed the honoree of Archon as an Orthodox Christian; was a Leadership 100 member; was a Board of Director of the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute (PAOI); and a lifetime member of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles.

Above all, his favorite achievement was being married to Agopie, and the life they built. We take comfort knowing they are together planning their next adventure.

We will miss his devotion, strength, love and support. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Sophia Cathedral or to Saint Sophia Philoptochos of Los Angeles. May his memory be eternal.

Trisagion service will be Monday, January 7, 2019, at 7:00pm. Funeral service will be Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at 11:00am. Both services will be held at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 1324 Normandie Avenue, Los Angeles, CA. Interment at Rose Hills Memorial Park in the Greek Foundation section.

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

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

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