Andrew Gregory Panos

SHREVEPORT, LA - Services celebrating the life of Andrew Gregory Panos, 78, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 7, 2017 at St. George Greek Orthodox Church on Creswell Avenue. Officiating will be Father Ioannis Krokos. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery on Stoner Avenue. The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 6, 2017, beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home on Marshall Street. A Trisagion service will follow at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Panos was born February 18, 1939 in Ampelorhori, Greece, the eleventh of twelve children, to Gregorios and Vasiliki Panos. He entered into Heavenly rest on April 1, 2017 after a brief illness. Mr. Panos immigrated to the United States in 1951 with his brother Chris. He attended Barret Elementary School and Hamilton Terrace Junior High, teaching himself English. In 1958 he graduated from C.E. Byrd High School after only 2 years. Later, he attended Panola College on a scholarship. In 1959 he joined the U.S. Army where he served for 7 years. Mr. Panos was very proud to serve his country and grateful for the opportunities it provided him. He often referred to his adopted homeland as the \"greatest country on Earth\". Since his arrival in the United States, Mr. Panos was a dedicated member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church, where he served in the choir for almost 40 years, Parish Council, and as a Sunday School teacher. He also helped prepare meals for the church with his brothers and son for special occassions. He was a member of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) since the 1960s. Mr. Panos worked in the restaurant business for over 50 years, working tirelessly to provide for his family here and abroad. He started out as a young boy working at his uncle\'s restaurant, Airport Drive Cafe\'. He later worked in several restaurants, including Kollege Grill before buying his own restaurants, including Po-Boy Grill and Danny\'s Drive-In. He was best known for serving Downtown Shreveport for 38 years at Panos\' Diner on Milam Street. Mr. Panos loved visiting with his \"wonderful customers\". He once said, \"Everybody\'s like a big family. I try to treat everybody like a friend.\" He was preceded in death by his father, Gregorios Panos, and his mother, Vasiliki Panos; his brother, Panayiotis Panos; and his sister, Ioanna Panos, of Ampelohori, Greece; brother Arisotelis Panos of Shreveport, LA; and twin brother Kostas Panos of Athens, Greece. Mr. Panos\' greatest pride was his family. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Fotini Panos; his daughter, Vasiliki (Viki) Andrew Panos; and his son, Gregory Andrew Panos and wife, Jana. He is also survived by his brother and business partner, Chris Panos and wife, Magda of Shreveport; his sister, Anthoula Panos and husband, Yianni of Ioannina, Greece; and several nieces and nephews. He leaves a great legacy of success through hard work, compassion, wisdom, a wonderful sense of humor, and love of God, family, and his fellow man. Honoring Mr. Panos as pallbearers will be Chris Booras, Chris Cosse, David Lester, Johnny Meiki, Alexander Mijalis, and Phillip Thompson. Honorary pallbearers: Charles Campbell, Sam Fassho, John Georgiafandis, Philip LaHaye, Richard Sparke, and John Theo. The family would like to thank all the doctors and nurses of University Health involved in Mr. Panos\' care for their diligence and kindness over the past month. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, St. Jude Children\'s Research Hospital, or Shriners Hospitals for Children.