George Polyvios Mantas was born to Polyvios and Christina Mantas in the village of Louka in Tripoli, Greece. As a teenager, George found work as a mechanic at a local shop in Tripoli. He picked up the trade easily and showed his passion for cars and talent at a young age. He came to the United States at the age of 16 and settled in Anaheim, California.  
  
Once in the United States, George started working at a few grocery stores, including his brother's grocery store, Foodland Market, and the Alpha Beta Grocery Store in Anaheim. George also spent some time working in the entertainment industry as a Script Doctor, editing film scripts for various producers and directors. George was passionate about films and later enjoyed sharing his favorites with his two sons, Polyvios and Speros, as they grew up. He especially loved a good Western and could hardly wait until the end of a movie to share all of the Hollywood magic and special effects with those around him.  
 
George had an entrepreneurial spirit and, together with his brothers, worked in various areas of the food industry. In the late 1960s, George worked with his brother, Jim, at a restaurant in Anaheim called Colonial Pantry. George later partnered with Jim to open Mantas Burgers in Garden Grove. Following the sale of the business, George and his younger brother, Aristos, started GAM Foods, selling homemade condiments and salad dressings. Although "GAM" stood for "George and Aristos Mantas," they called it "Good As Mom's" and were known for having the best blue cheese dressing in town, as stores sold out of their 16-ounce jars regularly.  
 
In the early 1980s, George reopened Mantas Burgers in Garden Grove and operated the restaurant with his brother, Aristos. In 1990, George opened a second Mantas Burgers location on Euclid Street in Anaheim. There, he had a number of regular customers who enjoyed his special menu items, including his Daily Sunrise Special, his football-sized hamburger, and his fried chicken dinner. George's customers regarded him as a great chef who was always kind and respectful. Over the years at Mantas Burgers, several of George's family members and friends worked alongside him, including his two sons and nephews. To this day, they all have fond memories of his unyielding work ethic, his sense of humor, and his belief in a strong cup of coffee.  
 
After George retired from the restaurant industry, he decided to return to his roots and further pursue his love of cars. George worked as a salesman at several dealerships, including Anaheim Mitsubishi, Hardin Honda, and Toyota of Anaheim. George truly enjoyed working at the OC Auto Show at the Anaheim Convention Center on behalf of his dealerships, showing the new and upcoming models. During his time selling cars, George's customers complimented his kindness, compassion, and thoughtfulness. 
 
George's pastimes included singing, dancing, and playing his bouzouki, especially for his two grandsons, George and Kyriacos, who joyfully danced along to the songs he played. George never hesitated to get up and dance his heart out to a good zeibekiko or grab the microphone to serenade the crowd, as he often did at family weddings, baptisms, and other celebrations. More recently, George found joy in drawing and painting colorful landscapes of his village in Tripoli, Greece, including depictions of churches and mountain ranges from memory.  
 
George poured his heart into everything he did, from cooking meals to creating art to playing and dancing to Greek music. George passed away peacefully on January 27, 2024, with family by his side. His kind heart and generous spirit will be forever remembered and greatly missed. 
 
George is survived by his sons, Polyvios (Alexandra) and Speros (Christianna), his grandsons, George and Kyriacos, and his former wife, Athena. He is also survived by his brothers, Gus, Pete, Jim, and Aristos; his sisters, Alexandra, Olga, Koula, and Sophia; and each of their families. 
 
The Trisagion for George will be held on Monday, February 12, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., and his funeral will be held on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Both services will take place at Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 405 North Dale Street, Anaheim, California 92801. The interment will be at Forest Lawn cemetery in Cypress, and the makaria (mercy luncheon) will follow at Saint John the Baptist Church. 

Arrangements under the direction of Chapman Funeral Homes - Mary Harmon, owner. Toll free (855) 628-0447.