Georgia G. Sakas

Georgia G. Sakas was born Georgia Roumeliotis in Nestani, Greece, on January 17, 1928, to George Roumeliotis and Maria Panagakis, her parents owned a mill that ground wheat into grain, and her father was Mayor of the town until he passed away in 1940. She had a quiet childhood until World War II broke out. Their house was on a mountain that overlooked the village and was taken over by German soldiers who needed a strategic lookout position.

Fortunately, no one in her family was harmed, and when her uncle Adon P. Romas offered one of them a chance to come to America in 1947…brave 19-year-old Georgia, who didn’t speak English and had never heard of Walla Walla, WA, said, “why not me?” She held several jobs, including telephone operator and working at the local cannery. She met Frank Sakas, co-owner of the Cinderella Shoe Shine Parlor on Main Street, during a “Greek mixer dance .”They were married on September 21, 1952, and had two sons, Chris, born June 17, 1953, and John, born July 29, 1962. Many may remember going to Frank’s Shine during Christmas and sampling Georgia’s delicious baklava, koulourakia, and kourabiedes.

She went to work at the Bon Marche as a retail sales associate when her second son started school and, for 30 years, served customers in various departments. She worked hard, loved clothes and people. Her resulting sales achievements won her recognition by corporate headquarters in Seattle, where she was honored numerous times as Salesperson of the Year.

After her husband passed, Georgia retired and lived a wonderful full life, spending time with friends old and new, became active in St. Silouan Orthodox Church, took several cruises throughout the world (the Baltic Sea was her favorite), worked out almost daily at the YMCA and amazingly enjoyed Zumba classes well into her early 90’s. She was also a bit of a card fiend, playing Pinochle, Hand and Foot, and other games weekly at the Elks Lodge, Sr. Center, rotating friends’ houses, and was even hosting Friday games at her new Wheatland apartment we had just moved her into.

Georgia passed away on June 23, 2023, at the grand age of 95. She was predeceased by her husband, Frank Sakas, on August 12, 2000, and her sister Maria. She is survived by her brothers, Gus Romas and Pete Roumeliotis of Chicago, Illinois, and by her sons, Chris Sakas of Beaverton, Oregon, and John (Paris) Sakas of Sammamish, Washington.

Georgia was an excellent listener and friend to many, loved by all that knew her. Always dressed well, she was elegant, sweet, smart, and strong, spunky with playfulness and a twinkle in her eye. As our dad used to tease her in Greek, “Clever as a Cat .”She was a wonderful wife and mother, teaching us kids to be kind, always tell the truth, work hard, and be strong.

Orthodox Services will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, June 28, at St. Silouan Orthodox Church, 603 Newell St. Walla Walla, followed by interment at Mountain View Cemetery and a small reception afterward. A Celebration of Life will be held within the next month, where family and friends will be invited to fully celebrate and tell stories of a life well lived.