George Chris Paris

PARIS, GEORGE CHRIS - age 79, with a kiss on the cheek of his bride of 55 years, and a host of angels, George Chris Paris, 79, left for his final resting place on Monday, November 1, 2010. A native of Nafpaktos, Greece, Mr. Paris loved the Greek Orthodox faith and his beloved family and friends. At 15 he left Greece for Memphis, TN, where he attended Christian Brothers High School. He was a member of the Glee Club and became editor of the CBHS Maurelian. While earning a B.S. in electrical engineering at the University of Tennessee, George became involved in ROTC , and was thereafter commissioned as a lieutenant in the US Army. He married Christina Regas, daughter of restauranteur Harry Regas, on September 4, 1955, at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Knoxville. While in the Army, the couple lived in Fountainbleau, France. In 1959, the couple returned to the States, where George achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After considering many options, the couple decided to settle in Knoxville with Christina’s family. He began his professional career with Robertshaw Controls as a design engineer and later progressed into sales and sales management. After a successful career in the industrial automation and equipment business, he started his own manufacturers’ representative agency, the George C. Paris Co., Inc., to be closer to and work with his family. His leadership and experience paved the way for both of his sons to become successful in the same field. Throughout his life, he served God and his Church by mastering the Byzantine style of chanting. He spent many summers in Greece studying at various Greek Orthodox churches and monasteries to further his skills. In his later years, he practiced with priests and monks at his beloved Metamorphosis monastery in his hometown of Nafpaktos. He was an active member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church serving as chanter, choir member, board member, treasurer and planning committee member. He was also instrumental in starting the first Greek Night fundraiser. His passion for his faith lives on through his devoted wife, children and grandchildren in countless volumes of recordings and videos. George is preceded in death by his parents, Chris and Lamprini Paris, and brothers-in-law, Charles Regas and George Spirides. He is survived by his wife, Christina, five children, Chris Paris, Connie Vavalides (Jim), Laura Paris, Eleni Murphy (Richard), and Harry Paris (Penny), and nine grandchildren, Christen Vavalides Fleming, Dean, Mary and Kathleen Vavalides, James, Michael, and Katherine Murphy, and Christina and Constance Paris. He is also survived by devoted sisters-in-law, Gisela Regas, Maria Regas and Frances Regas Spirides, nieces, Kristiana Regas Hollow and Jeannie Spirides, nephew, Harry Spirides, and numerous cousins. George will be buried with full military honors. Honorary pallbearers are Nick Liakonis, Tom Pappas, Steve Cakmes, and Gus Regas. Pallbearers are Dean Vavalides, James Murphy, Michael Murphy, Gary Kalogeros, Harry Spirides, Tony Liakonis, Colby Fleming and Tom Varlan. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. George Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund (Knoxville), the St. George Choir Fund (Knoxville), AHEPA Chapter 346 of St. George (Knoxville), ISA Oak Ridge Section (Oak Ridge), Metamorphosis Monastery (Nafpaktos, Greece), or St. Demetrios Church, (Nafpaktos, Greece). Funeral Service 11:00 am Friday at St. George Greek Orthodox Church with an interment to follow at Lynnhurst Cemetery. The family will receive friends at St. George Greek Orthodox Church on Thursday from 5:00 – 8:00 pm with a Trisagion service at 7:30 pm. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Broadway Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.rosemortuary.com

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George Chris Paris

March 24, 1931 - November 1, 2010