Fraternity-Testvériség, 1988 (66. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1988-07-01 / 3. szám
Page 14 TESTVÉRISÉG REVEREND GEORGE ARPAD 1948-1988 The Right Reverend Arpad George was born in Szalonna, Hungary, on August 3, 1911. In 1913 he was brought to the United States by his parents and they settled in Trenton, N], until 1920 when the family returned to Hungary to the Tokaj area. In 1931 after completing his education in Sárospatak, he immigrated to the United States and enrolled at Bloomfield College & Seminary in New Jersey. While a student, he served Hungarian churches in Caldwell and Elizabeth and was ordained in 1935. He served as pastor of the Elizabeth Presbyterian Church for six years. In 1942 he married Palma Franko. Their marriage was blessed with two children: Palma Suzanne George, a high school teacher, and George Robert George, an electronic engineer. He served Hungarian-American churches in Bronx, NY, Elizabeth, NJ, and in 1946 he was called to the pastorate of the Hungarian Evangelical and Reformed Church of Chicago, South Side. He was instrumental in building the new church complex which was dedicated on March 20, 1966. From 1951 to 1963 he served the Hungarian community as an officer of Calvin Synod and served as president from 1963 to 1967. From 1958 to 1968 he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the HRFA, for 8 years as the National Secretary and for four years as the National President, until his retirement on December 31, 1980. He retired with his beloved wife on January 1, 1981 to Port Charlotte in sunny Florida where he wholeheartedly strengthened the Hungarian Christian spirit and fellowship. He held monthly ecumenical Hungarian Christian services in Sarasota. He died on July 2, 1988 and was laid to rest in the Ligonier cemetery where his wife, Palma, who passed away in 1987, also rests. His departure is mourned not only by his immediate family, but also by the entire American-Hungarian community—and in a very special way by the large family of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, which he served faithfully and with dedication on community and national level. Imre Bertalan REV. DONALD AL^X VESPREMI 1948-1988 The Rev. Donald Alex Vespremi, a Downriver native of Taylor, Michigan, died July 23 at a Houston hospital after undergoing open heart surgery. Rev. Vespremi was 40. A 1965 graduate of Taylor Center High School, Rev. Vespremi was born in Wyandotte and moved from Lapeer, Mich, to Abilene, Texas in 1979. In 1972, Rev. Vespremi graduated from Atlanta Christian College in East Point, Ga. He also attended RETS Electronics School in Detroit and worked on a master's degree at Abilene Christian University. In March, Rev. Vespremi became the pastor of Southwest Park Christian Church. He also was self- employed, installing and repairing stereo systems for seven years. During this time, he was also part time pastor of First Christian Church, DeLeon, Texas. In addition, Rev. Vespremi was vice president of the Valley View PTA and a member of the board of trustees. He also served on the educational committee of the International Society of Christian Endeavor in Columbus, OH. Services for Rev. Vespremi were held July 26 in Texas at the Southwest Park Christian Church. Burial was at Elmwood Memorial Park. Surviving Rev. Vespremi are his wife Joyce, who is the Abilene Public Library's children librarian; three daughters, Melody, Faith and Hope; a son, Luke; a mother, Donna Sims of Dearborn; a brother, Ronald Véspremi of Taylor; a sister, Kathy Olinik of Holly. Rev. Vespremi was the son of the late Gazel Vespremi who was on the board of directors and vice president of the HRFA and manager of branch 156, Wyandotte, Michigan, for many years before his death in 1976. Rev. Vespremi was a member of the HRFA since birth. We extend the surviving family our heartfelt condolences.
