Angelos T. Bakis

Angelos Thomas Bakis, 88, of Florence, was born to Thomas and Efrosini Bakis in Nostimon, Karpenisi, Greece on May 10, 1935 and passed away on December 5, 2023 from a battle with COPD. Despite spending time in and out of the hospital, he never lost his sense of humor, which continued to his last days. He left his homeland at the young age of 16 in 1951 to pursue a better life in the United States. Upon arriving in America, he began his life as a restauranteur working at Howard Johnson’s in Charlotte, NC. He was a veteran having served in the US army for two years in Korea. He met his wife, Elefteria N. Bakis, in Canada and was married in 1961. They moved to Florence, SC, where he continued his restaurant career at the 301 Drive In Restaurant until his retirement. Angelos was an active member of the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church where he served in many capacities throughout the years. He loved his church family and his church. He was a member of the Evrytanian Association of America (The Velouchi). He was also a member of the Amity Lodge No. 340 with the Shriners and a lifetime member of the Masons with the Mecca Lodge No. 407. He dearly loved his family, spending time with his grandchildren, and enjoyed many trips traveling back and forth in the summers to his home birth place in Greece. He is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Christo Bakis and Andrew Bakis; and sister, Elizabeth Philippakis. Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Elefteria of Florence; children, Frances (Robert) Ray and Thomas Bakis; granddaughter, Vanetta (Bradley) Hudson; great-grandchildren, Kayli and Brooklyn Hudson; and a sister, Xanthie Papaspyrou. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church or to the McLeod Hospice House, PO Box 100551, Florence, SC 29502, www.mcleodfoundation.org. Trisagion and funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm Friday, December 8, 2023 at the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery directed by Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home.