Rev. Dr. George Tharakan

Rev. Dr. George Tharakan (88) passed away peacefully surrounded by his children at home in Garland. Rev. Dr. George Tharakan was born May 19, 1932 at the Tharakan Parambil house in Kunnathoor, Kollam District. He was the 3rd son of the late Kochummen Tharakan and Aleyamma Tharakan. Born into a Marthoma family, in 1963, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior along with his parents. He practiced general medicine full time in different places of Kerala until 1972. At which point, he received the divine calling for ministry. In 1980, he along with his family moved
to Chengannur and started ministering at different local churches of the Church of God in South India. He served as the council secretary of the Church of God in South India for many years. After the sudden demise of Rev. P.V Jacob, on June 11, 1991, he was unanimously elected as the
president of Church of God in South India. He then served as the director of Asian Bible College, College of Technology, and the Ebenezer Self Help Project. He held the manager position at SMM higher secondary school, and several LP schools as well as the Bewernic English medium school.
He also served as the President of Kerala Council of Churches (KCC), Aluva zone. He has planted several churches and institutions in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. He retired from all positions in October 2012 and settled in the United States in 2013.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Thankamma Tharakan, and their 8 children along with their spouses: Susan & KC Baby, Raju & Jainamma Tharakan, Rose & John Kunnel, Thomas & Susy Tharakan, Valsamma & VM Rajan, Johnson & Letha Tharakan, Vijoy & Mercy Tharakan, and Wilson & Beena Tharakan. He will be missed by his 23 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

He was a man of God who lived by the message he preached. Peacemaker by nature, he was very adept at tackling any issues that came his way. He was a loving and caring husband who set a great example for his children by giving utmost importance to his ministry. His charismatic
nature and inspiring message had great influence on anyone he came in contact with; he treated everyone equally, irrespective of their financial/social background.

On the morning of July 29, 2020, he described visions of angels dressed in heavenly light coming to receive him. On July 30th, just 2 hours before his passing, he told his family that he was going to his heavenly home and blessed all of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
At 10:05pm he left the world peacefully to join his heavenly Father. We pray that his legacy of faith and service continues to inspire our family and his loved ones.