Obituary of Louis A. Smallis

Louis A. Smallis Peabody -- Louis A. Smallis, 89, of Peabody, died peacefully on December 1, 2008, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. He was the devoted husband of Stella (Bakas) Smallis with whom he shared 61 years of marriage. Born in Lynn on March 2, 1919, he was one of five children born to Ernest and Harriet Smallis, who immigrated to the United States from Greece early in the 20th century. A decorated U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he served with the 25th Infantry Division (Tropic Lightning), formed just 2 months prior to the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. Louis was among the first U.S. troops to survive the attack at Schofield Barracks and nearby Wheeler Army Airfield. Thereafter Louis served at Guadalcanal and participated in the liberation of the Philippines as part of the invasion at Luzon. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant shortly after victory was declared in the Pacific theater in 1945. Prior to his retirement at age 62 in 1981, Louis held several positions in civilian life, and from 1960 to 1963 was part-owner of the former Daniel Fuller House in Middleton, MA. He spent a number of years as a master machinist fabricating critical missile components for the defense industry. In addition to his wife Stella, he is survived by his son Christopher, of Arlington, VA; his son Ernest and his wife Laurie of Temecula, CA; his "adopted" sons Mark Sampsonis of Shrewsbury, MA and Michael Sampsonis of Kingston, NH, and their families; two grandchildren, Stephanie and Andrew Smallis; his great nephews, Daniel and Jeremy Sampsonis, and Jacob and Tyler Sampsonis and his sole surviving sibling, George Smallis of Peabody. A memorial service will be held at the Conway-Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn Street location, Peabody,on Thursday Dec 4, 2008 at 10 AM . He will be laid to rest at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Cedar Grove Ave., Peabody, immediately after the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, donations in Louis' memory can be made to the American Stroke Association or Disabled American Veterans.