John Skariah Pallithadathil

Bro. P. Skariah John (76), Pallithadathil House, Ranni, Kerala, went to be with the Lord on February 26, 2016. His grandfather Purathoottu Mathaichan was one of the pioneers of brethren movement in Kerala who partnered with the father of Bro. T. K. Samuel to reach out with Gospel in Elanthoor area. His father Mr. Mathai Skariah and family migrated to Ranni, Kerala and settled there. After losing his father at six months old, he was brought up by his mother and had four siblings. At a very young age he got saved, was baptized and spent most of his life helping the needy people in Bihar. At the age of 18, he left Kerala after doing his diploma in electrical engineering. He landed in Bihar where he did not know the language and had no family. He had a very successful tenure in Bihar State Electricity Board for more than 40 years. God used him in various ways in that part of the world. He was instrumental in helping the YMEF teams that visited Bihar for Gospel work. He was instrumental to establish the first convent school started by Catholic diocese in Deoghar, Bihar where his children got their education. He was also active in Gospel work and helped to start various churches because of his contacts and influence in Bihar at that time. He was a man of great faith and good testimony among the locals there. His great desire was to come back to his native place. So after his retirement in 2000 from Bihar State Electricity Board, he moved back to Ranni, Kerala with his wife, and settled down with his brothers. He was in fellowship with Zionkunnu Brethren Assembly, Ranni and was a very active member there. After being in Kerala for almost 11 years, in 2013, he and his wife migrated to the U. S. to be with their three children and families. At first, he was in Houston, Texas with his second son and later came to Detroit to be with the other two children. He was in fellowship with the India Gospel Assembly of Detroit. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mariamma John; his three sons and their families: James John (Jaisy)of Sterling Heights, Michigan, Evg. Jaimon John (Nancy) of Houston, Texas, and Georgy John (Smitha) of Shelby Township, Michigan; and his ten grandchildren: Jamie, Jeremy, Jeslyn, Ashel, Aida, Aaron, Amy, Nathaniel, Joshua, and Lydia.