Manuel G. Sempeles, 83, of Winchester, Virginia, died Sunday, May 17, 2015, at his residence.

Mr. Sempeles was born in Winchester, Virginia, in 1931, the son of the late George Pondele and Constantina Sempeles.  He was a restauranteur with his first restaurant being the Open Hearth.  He was the owner of Manuel’s and Wife Restaurant in Winchester for 43 years, retiring in 2003.  He was a graduate of John Handley High School where he played football.  He served with the United States Army in the Korean Conflict, where he was stationed in Germany.  When he returned, he played football for West Virginia University and University of Richmond. 

Manuel was a member of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church since the inception of the local parish, being former president and member of the Parish Council.  He formerly served on the Winchester Star Leadership Committee, was a member of the Shenandoah Valley Gun Club, a volunteer coach for James Wood and Handley, and a past member of Stonewall Ruritan.  He was a member of Korean War Veterans, a pioneer Civil War Relic Hunter, and a past member of the Frederick County Zoning Appeal Board.  He was also a member of the Metropolis Council of the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey, a member of the Freemasons and was formerly on the board of Lord Fairfax Community College.

Manuel married Florine G. Thomas on July 15, 1957 in Raleigh, North Carolina, celebrating 57 years of marriage in 2014.

In addition to his wife of Winchester, he is survived by three daughters, Tina Blalock and her husband, Gordon, of Salisbury, MD, Andrea Zember and her husband, Woody, of Onley, VA, Stephanie Orndorff and her husband, Mike, of Stephenson.  He is also survived by two sons, George Manuel Sempeles and his wife, Carol, of Clear Brook, VA, Michael Manuel Sempeles and his wife, Marian, of Stephens City, VA, and grandchildren, Alexis Cantwell and husband Pat, Jordan Orndorff, Ellie Blalock, Tyler Orndorff and fiancée, Brittany, Luke Zember and fiancée Sara, Billy Blalock, Woods Zember, Noah Zember, Manuel Sempeles, Michael Orndorff, Evania Sempeles, Lee Sempeles, Danny Albers, Sebastian Albers and a great granddaughter, Sophia Cantwell, and his beloved canine companion, Lola.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Aspacia Coverstone, and brothers, Lacky and Jimmy Sempeles.

The family will receive friends at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel on Tuesday evening from 6 – 8 p.m., with Trisagion services at 7:45 p.m.

A funeral service will be conducted on Wednesday at The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, 1700 Amherst Street, Winchester, Virginia, at 11:00 a.m. with Father Peter Papanikolaou, Father Nicholas Bacalis, and Father Costas Pavlakos officiating.  Interment will be in Mount Hebron Cemetery with military honors.

Serving as pallbearers for Manuel will be all of his beloved grandchildren.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Suite 405, Winchester, VA, 22601 or to The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, 1700 Amherst Street, Winchester, VA 22601. 

Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel is handling the funeral arrangements.