IN MEMORIAM: Rev. George Ebbers

June 17, 1929 – December 31, 2009

Rev. George Ebbers, 80, thoughtful reader of the Word, grounded in faith, acquainted with grief, cautious in his expressions, and skillful craftsman, died from heart failure on Dec. 31.

Ebbers was born in Edmonton, Alberta. He studied one year in a pre-med program at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. But a growing desire to serve his Lord in the gospel ministry brought him to Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., from which he graduated in 1952. He graduated from Calvin Theological Seminary and entered ministry in the Christian Reformed Church in 1955. He married Julia Ellens in 1953.

Ebbers began his ministry in Tyler (Minn.) CRC. From 1959 to 1968, he pastored Willard (Ohio) CRC, and then moved west to San Jose (Calif.) CRC.

In 1983 the Ebbers family suffered the tragic loss of their youngest son, Jon. George took a leave from the parish ministry that was to last several years. Besides engaging in non-ministerial work, he studied family and marital therapy the California Graduate School of Theology and served on the Board of ERRC (Educational Resource Referral China).

During the summer of 1985 he served several months on Guam under the auspices of Christian Reformed World Missions. In l987 he accepted a call to Community CRC in Redding, Calif., where he served until his retirement in 1991.

In 2004 the Ebbers family experienced another loss: the death of son Russ after a lengthy illness.

During his retirement, and as recently as Nov. 15, 2009, Ebbers served as pulpit supply for Agape Fellowship CRC (Chinese).

Ebbers was a man of thoughtful words. Those beset by trials found in him a sympathetic listener. Youth ministry was the love of his heart. He was a careful reader, deeply interested in the society and church at large. Gifted with administrative skills, he served Classis Central California (the regional group of churches) as its secretary from 1973 to 1979. He was a member of the board of Christian Reformed World Missions for 12 years.

Ebbers is survived by his wife, Julia; their children Bev and Larry Terborg, Randy and Cindy Ebbers, and Kim Thomas; ten grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.