William S. (Bill) Booras, loving husband, father, and grandfather, cherished uncle and friend, and distinguished World War II veteran, died peacefully in his sleep at home on August 23rd. He was 93.

The third of four children born to Greek immigrants, Stamatios Booras and Anna Papadopoulos, Bill (Billy to his sisters) grew up happy but cold in Winthrop, Massachusetts. By his own admission, he spent most of his childhood running about town with his friends, playing baseball or golf in any weather, and working at his father's import business. As with so many of his generation, after high school that carefree life gave way to the US Army.

During World War II, Bill served in the Pacific Theater from 1943 to 1946, taking part in the Philippine (Luzon) and New Guinea campaigns. His unit received the Distinguished Unit Badge. The war stayed with him for the rest of his life.

Bill went home to Winthrop after the war, fully intending to run the family business. Unfortunately the Greek-Italian import business could not survive both the Depression and the War. So, taking advantage of the GI Bill, he enrolled at Suffolk University in Boston, where he graduated with a BA in Business Administration. Then he formed a new plan: go to Los Angeles, Land of Opportunity. He had seen this warm, sunny paradise on his way to the Pacific during the war.

Telling his dad the trip was only a vacation, he borrowed the family Plymouth and drove to Los Angeles. He never drove it back. Instead, he started attending Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral – the center of Greek life in southern California. As luck would have it, he met and fell in love with another interstate transplant, Angeline Papas, from Joplin, Missouri. After a short courtship, Bill proposed to Angie during a golf date, on the 15th hole. Three holes later (the 18th), Angie accepted. They were married on June 1, 1958, at St. Sophia and were inseparable for nearly 50 years until Angie's passing in 2007.

Bill and Angie lived and worked in West Garden Grove for 25+ years. It was an idyllic place to raise kids, and they succeeded wonderfully. Angie worked in the drama department at Golden West College, which she loved, while Bill worked at McDonnell Douglas Corp in Long Beach, as a parts buyer for commercial aircraft like the DC-9 and DC-10, which he loved. Famously, he also worked at Sears, moonlighting in the credit department, which we're not sure he loved. He would come home from Douglas, have dinner with Angie and the kids, and then drive to Sears for a 4-hour shift.

A near-scratch golfer in his prime, Bill finished among the leaders in many amateur tournaments. But he waited until he turned 80 to make his first hole-in-one. He adored teaching his sons and grandkids to play sports, especially baseball and golf, and enjoyed watching his grandkids ice skate, run track and cross country, and perform in color guard. He loved the outdoors and treasured the annual family camping trips across the west. Keeping an open mind, Bill became a drag racing enthusiast after his pre-license teenage son introduced him to the sport.

Over the years, Bill caught dozens of baseballs and one hockey puck hit into the stands, the latter likely saving his son's life. Remarkably, he caught four foul balls in three separate World Series games: two in 1959 at the LA Coliseum, one in 1974 at Dodger Stadium, and another in 1978 at Dodger stadium.

Bill possessed true optimism about life and was genuinely happy. He could be shy in groups and disliked the spotlight, but he was great one-on-one. He loved coffee and salads but avoided alcohol. He had a low-key sense of humor, laughing with and never at others. He disliked off-color or rude jokes and in fact promoted civil behavior. He was emotionally steady and quietly caring.

Bill is survived by his sons and daughters in law, John & Leslye Booras and Greg & Anmarie Booras, by his grandchildren, Samantha, Alexa, Andrew, and Athena Booras, and by his nieces and nephews, Frank Aralis, Jim (Roberta) Aralis, Maria (Dave) Crabb, Andrea (Mark) Faudree, Sandy (Jim) Feicht, Everett (Theresa) Nickolin, Peter Nickolin, Michael (Donna Jean) Panopoulos, Stephen (Shirley) Panopoulos, Darius (Stacy) Papas, and Stephanie Papas.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Angeline (Papas) Booras; sisters Mary Booras, Julia (Booras) Margolis, and Eva (Booras) Panopoulos; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Helen (Papas) and Nick Nickolin, Mary (Papas) and Danny Tonge, Milton Aralis, Ann (Papas) and Warren Wendt, Mary (Wallace) and Dean Papas, Ann (Orphan) Papas, Mary (Laros) and Speero Papas, and Jim Panopoulos; nephew Tom Liringis.

We miss him, and them all, terribly.

The Trisagion (memorial) will be held at 8:00 pm on Thursday, August 31, 2017, at Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church, 27129 Calle Arroyo, Suite #1803, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, September 1, 2017, also at Saint Basil Church. Please join the family for a Makaria (mercy meal) at the church following the funeral service. After the Makaria we will proceed to El Toro Memorial Park for the burial
(25751 Trabuco Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630).

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation in Bill's name to Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church or a charity of your choice.

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