Varkey George

Please click here to view the Funeral Service: HICF Ministries   

          Varkey George of Bowie, MD, went to be with the Lord Jesus on the morning of Saturday, June 6th, 2020, at the age of 80. Varkey was born on December 2nd, 1939 to the late Varkey and Mariamma Joseph of the Kochuparampil House in Mammood, Kerala, India.

          He graduated from Vikram University in Bhopal, India, with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He married Anna George on November 2nd, 1964 and immigrated to the United States from India in 1974. After living in Staten Island, NY with his family, working as an Accountant, he and his family moved to Maryland, where he continued to work as an Accountant. His family, friends, and coworkers knew him to be hardworking, servant-hearted, generous, and compassionate. 

          Varkey is survived by his wife, Anna George, and their three children (and spouses): Shaji (Mercie), Shibu (Rana), and Merena. Varkey is also survived by five grandchildren -- Elisabeth, Dylan, Aaron, Zane, and Ryder -- and his five younger siblings – Mariamma Stephen (Kunjamma), Sosamma Raju (Kunjammini), Joseph Scaria (Baby), Saramma Varughese (Chinnakutty), and Aleyamma Oommen (Leelamma).

          Varkey was a faithful follower of Christ from 1978 onwards, who took immense joy in any opportunity to share about the eternal hope he found in Jesus Christ, as well as any other wisdom he had acquired on his life’s journey. He was committed to each of his children, grandchildren, family members, and friends, consistently praying for all of them by name every morning. He was passionate about discipleship, taking coworkers and other community members under his wing, organizing inter-denominational Bible studies, and being a reliable component of his church’s weekly prayer meetings and Sunday worship. He was a devoted member of his church, Hope International Christian Fellowship, loving and taking pride in his fellow church members as he would his own family.  He was ordained as a pastor in June 2011. He enjoyed being a student of the Bible, always learning something new from his time in the Word and eager to share.  In his last year of life, he often emphasized the importance of “considering others above yourself,” just as is commanded in the Bible.

          His sweet smile, booms of laughter, and witty jokes shared his contagious joy with the world around him. Varkey was a beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and brother to us all. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends in America, India, and around the world.

          In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief charity (www.samaritanspurse.org) that was supported by the late evangelist Billy Graham, a man Varkey considered as his spiritual hero.

A funeral service is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17^th via Facebook Live.