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Gregory Avdakov of Glen Dale, WV passed away June 3, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. He was born on November 14, 1940 in Svilajnac, Serbia to Alexis and Branislava (Petrovic) Avdakov. His father, a native of Russia, was a veteran of World War I who fought against the Communists in the Russian Revolution and became a refugee in Serbia, where he met and married Greg’s mother. After fighting in World War II, he again became a refugee in a displaced persons camp in Austria. He immigrated to the United States in 1952 and was followed by his wife and son in 1953. They settled in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Although he knew no English when he came to the U.S. at age 13, Greg quickly learned the language and excelled in school. He graduated third in his class from South Side High School in Ft. Wayne in 1959, and went on to receive a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University. While at Purdue, he met the love of his life, Esther Matz, whom he married on February 4, 1965. The couple came to the Ohio Valley in 1965, where Greg was employed at Wheeling Steel’s Follansbee coke plant. He then worked at Ormet from 1968 until his retirement in 1996. The Avdakovs moved to Glen Dale in 1971, where Greg resided until he passed. As an immigrant from a Communist country, he loved America, was extremely patriotic, and served as a volunteer at the polls on Election Day for several years. Greg loved to travel, and he and Esther visited many countries including his hometown in Serbia, several countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and nearly all the U.S. states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Greg was a long-time board member of the Ohio Valley Credit Union, and he volunteered at the Soup Kitchen in Wheeling. He was a certified Master Gardener. In particular, he was devoted to his Orthodox Christian faith. He was a longtime member and leader at St. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Moundsville, where he served on the church council for several decades. He also served the church as a Reader for 45 years. He graduated from the Late Vocation Diaconate program of the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania (APWP); which enabled him to serve at the rank of Subdeacon. He also served as Treasurer and Member of the Archdiocesan Council of the APWP for many years, retiring in 2015. He is survived by his wife Esther, sons Steven and Dave (Laura), and grandchildren Alex, Elise, Sarah, and Alec. Family will receive friends on Sunday from 2-5pm at Grisell Funeral Home & Crematory, 400 Jefferson Ave., Moundsville where Parastas Service will be held at 4pm. Blessing Service will be held Monday at 9:30 am at the funeral home, followed by Orthodox Service being held at 10am at St. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Moundsville with Fr. William Evansky and Fr. John Kocha as celebrants. Interment in Riverview Cemetery, Moundsville. Donations are welcome to be made in Greg’s name to the International Orthodox Christian Charities, 110 West Road, Suite 360 , Baltimore, MD 21204.

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Gregory Avdakov

November 14, 1940 - June 3, 2019