JOSEPH JAMES PAPPAS

JOSEPH JAMES PAPPAS, 92, died peacefully, March 16, 2010, in Houston, Texas, at M.D. Anderson Hospital, after a long and courageous battle with CLL. He was born in Ft. Worth, Tx. June 23, 1917 to the late James A. (Pappadakis) Pappas and Mary A. Passalaqua.His family moved to Houston in 1932. He was in ROTC in Ft. Worth before moving and continued in ROTC at old Sam Houston High School, the beginning of his long Military Career. He graduated from Sam Houston High School and soon entered South Texas School of Law. He entered the Texas Defense Guard then delayed law school when he enlisted in the US Army, September 1941. He excelled in the Army, receiving numerous awards and accommodations. One of his later awards was the General John J. Pershing Award for high academic averages, award by the US Army Command and General Staff College. He was promoted and held every available rank but one, from private to Colonel, retiring from the Army Reserves, 75th MAC, in the mid 1970's. He took great pride in his military career and held many varied positions including tank destroyers branch, signal corps and civil affairs among others.Shortly after the war he received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and was a licensed attorney for the rest of his life. He soon entered law enforcement holding a number of positions in Harris County, including Chief Deputy, Precinct 2, Harris County for a number of years. He stayed active in law enforcement for the rest of his life and maintained closes ties to many in the law enforcement community.After leaving Precinct 2, in the late 50's, he opened his law office and continued his law practice until the early 90's, deciding to semi retire. In the early 60's he also started a residential home building company, building homes in Westbury, Meyerland, Maplewood areas for a number of years.For most of his adult life Joe was very active in the local democratic party, having served as party treasurer for a numbers of years and precinct chairman for many years. He was also a member of the Greek Orthodox Church, AHEPA, and other Greek organizations, the MOAA, ROA, local civic club and many other organizations.The most important thing Joe's life was his family. Everything he worked for was for them. He married the love of his life, Julia Alice Walker, Valentine's Day 1955 and had one son and daughter.Joseph was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Julia Alice Walker, April 1997. He is survived by his son, Joseph J. Pappas II, Daughter, Julia A. Bolander, husband Jeffery N. Bolander and Grandson Jarrett Bolander, all of Houston, Nieces Jeannine Lamella of San Jose, California, Phyliss Erdman, husband Howard, of Pullman Washington, and cousins Bill Pappas and Suzanne Roberts, of Dallas.Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, March 21, 2010, with a Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m., at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, 6700 Ferris St., Bellaire. Mass of the Resurrection will be at 10:00 a.m., Monday, March 22, 2010, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 10330 Hillcroft, Houston, with the Rev. William A. Oliver, Celebrant. Rite of Committal will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery.Pallbearers: Tom Bybee, Robert Clowers, Bill O'Donnelly, Constable Gary Freeman, Ken Hasley and John Overton. Honorary Pallbearer: Clyde Buffington.A special thanks to the staff and Doctors at M.D. Anderson Hospital and especially to Dr. Guillermo Garcia-Manero, Dr. J.D. Durand and Dr. Joshua Samuels. -->