George Manuel Sempeles, 60, of Clear Brook, Virginia passed away Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at Inova Fairfax Hospital.
George was born in 1958 in Winchester, Virginia, the son of Florine Sempeles and the late Manuel Sempeles. He graduated from James Wood High School, Class of 1976, where he was on the wrestling team and achieved Eagle Scout status. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Richmond in 1980. After surviving cancer, he continued to work hard, finding new challenges and striving to be the best at everything he did. He began working at his parent’s restaurant, Manuel’s and Wife, then started renovating and flipping houses. This led him to become a contractor and he started to build homes, after which he pursued guttering and roofing as the owner of Tradesmen Builder’s Group. George was a successful land developer and he loved to make a deal.
In his personal life, George loved the outdoors and enjoyed spending time riding around on a four-wheeler with his dog, Cocoa. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and recently, a farmer raising goats, pheasants, and quail. George was fascinated with history and was an avid Civil War buff, learning about relic hunting and collecting from his father. He could build practically anything with his hands and liked spending time creating historically accurate guns, swords, and his own ammunition. George was a member of the North-South Skirmish Association’s 5th Virginia Volunteer Infantry competitive shooting team. He loved his church and was a member of Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, where he was Vice-President of the Parish Council, past president of the Council, and Chairman of the Greek Festival for many years, an event he always looked forward to.
George married Carol Tharpe on December 9, 1995 in Winchester Virginia.
Surviving with his mother and loving wife is a daughter, Evania George Fotini Sempeles, and a son, Pondele “Lee” George Sempeles, both of Clear Brook, Virginia, his children were his greatest treasures; sisters, Tina Blalock (Gordon) of Salisbury, Maryland, Andrea Zember (Woody) of Onley, Virginia, and Stephanie Orndorff (Mike) of Stephenson, Virginia; brother, Michael Manuel Sempeles (Marian) of Stephens City, Virginia; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The family will receive friends from 3 pm to 5 pm on Sunday at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel with Trisagion services at 4 pm.
A funeral service will be conducted at 12 pm on Monday at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church. Interment will be in Mount Hebron Cemetery, Winchester, Virginia.
Serving as pallbearers will be Pondele “Lee” George Sempeles, Jordan Orndorff, Tyler Orndorff, Luke Zember, Billy Blalock, Woods Zember, Noah Zember, Emmanuel Sempeles, Michael Orndorff, Gregory Coverstone, George James Sempeles, George Pondele Sempeles, and Mike Orndorff.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation, c/o George Manuel Sempeles Fund, P.O. Box 897, New Market, Virginia 22844 for a memorial at the Battle of Third Winchester for all to enjoy.