Paul Constantine Tsalapatas

Paul Constantine Tsalapatas, 91, of Charleston, South Carolina, formerly of Columbia, South Carolina, passed away March 9, 2017 at the Veteran’s Victory House in Walterboro S.C. He was born on August 23, 1925 in Chicago Illinois to Constantine (Gus) A. Tsalapatas and Panayiota (Pansy) Leventis, both from Greece. Paul moved with his family, including his brother George and sisters Helen and Martha, to Columbia, South Carolina. He served in the United States Army Air Force during World War II, flying in combat missions in the Pacific theater, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, as well as Pacific Battle Star Citations. After military service he attended the University of South Carolina and received a Bachelor Of Science in Business and Accounting. He was the Chief Financial Officer of Dixie Beverage Company for many years and then an Assistant Comptroller in the Office of the Governor of the State of South Carolina until he retired in 1995. He was active in community service, including his church, the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, and the Order of AHEPA, and kept in touch over the years with his fellow service members of the 19th Bombardment B-29 Group. In addition to being a loving family man, he loved mystery novels and thrillers and loved telling a good joke—usually erupting into laughter before he could deliver the punchline. He was preceded in death by his older brother George who was killed in action at Iwo Jima, and two younger sisters Helen Karounis and Martha Myllo. He is survived by his wife of 63 years Joanne Nichols, his daughters Pamela Church of New York and Anna Tsalapatas (George Gratzick) of Charleston, his three grandchildren Nicholas and Benjamin Gratzick of Charleston and Susannah Jane (Susie) Church of San Francisco, his niece Joanna Myllo Graham (Patterson) and great-niece Maura of Columbia, his nephews John Nikolatos and Bart Nichols and his great-niece Sydney Nichols of San Antonio.
There will be a private burial at Beaufort National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. Arrangements are entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral Home. To leave a condolence please visit www.McAlister-Smith.com.