LAS VEGAS, NEVADA-Our father's journey here came to an end on Thursday, December 23, 1999, at approximately 6:30 a.m. in the Desert Springs Hospital, Las Vegas, Nevada.His last few years were consumed by various surgeries that were brought on by diabetes. He had recently undergone a kidney transplant that really never took. Dad was born May 4, 1934 in the village of Haviloi in the Peloponnesus region of Greece.
He was born to Demetrios (deceased 1997 at age 98) and Vasiliki (deceased 1981 at age 77) one of seven children: Father (Harry) Haralampos (deceased), Constantine (deceased), George, Helen Loukuu, Dr. (Taki) Panagiotis, and baby brother John. All surviving siblings currently reside in the Athens, Greece area.
Dad and his brother George came by boat to the U.S. in 1951 and worked at their Uncle Bill's restaurants in Wyoming, until Dad graduated from Green River High School. Dad served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged, whereby gaining his U.S. Citizenship, of which he was extremely proud. After living in Denver, Colorado for a short time, Dad moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and met and married Arlene Barlow Mitchell (Wachter). Between them they had eight children: Judy (Delbert) Steele, Salt Lake City, Utah; Gerald B. (Sumiko) Mitchell, Idaho Falls, Idaho; John Albert (Marianne) Mitchell, and Jeffery Lynn (Milan) Mitchell, both of Salt Lake City, Utah; Jordan Arlene (Renita) Mitchell, Roy, Utah; Jean Robert (Laurie) Babilis, Ogden, Utah; Jan Preston (Chonita) Babilis, Riverdale, Utah; Jennifer Costly, Ogden, Utah; and numerous grandchildren.
Dad and Mom divorced and he later married Vilai Nararum. In 1996, they moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. Dad was a "jack of all trades" and knew them all well. He sold insurance, vacuum cleaners, real estate, automotive insurance policies and himself. He lived in Granite (SLC, Utah) until 1970 when he relocated to Ogden, Utah. He and Mom owned and operated Falconhurst Country Club (SLC, Utah), Paisano's Restaurant (Ogden, Utah), and Babilis Insurance. Dad was always active in the community and always had an opinion that he was willing to share. He was the past Democratic Party Chairman for Weber County, past President of the Ogden Chapter of Footprinters, a reserve officer for the Ogden City Police Department, and was active in numerous trade, civic, and professional organizations. He had worked for MTC in both Ogden and Covington, Kentucky. His last employment was with the State of Utah Department of Corrections, (Draper, Utah) where Dad once again proved his great character and was awarded a Commendation from the Governor of Utah, for his courageous act in saving the life of an inmate. Dad was a teacher at the prison, teaching his much loved trade of cooking. Dad was born into the Greek Orthodox Church and was later converted to the LDS religion in which he was active for numerous years serving in various capacities. During the last few years he was again an active Greek Orthodox returning to his "roots", serving on the Church Board. God surely is the only one to finally judge him and his life. We will lay our father's body down to rest in Ogden, Utah, on Tuesday, December 28th per his last wishes.
There will be a viewing and gathering of his friends and family at Lindquist's Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd., on Monday, December 27th from 6 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. with a family and friends service to follow from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Services will continue at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration, 674, 42nd Street, for the traditional Greek services that will commence at 12 noon. Interment, Lindquist's Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Road. His family in Greece will hold a special service for their brother and friend. Dad, we will miss you.