George Koshi Vargis

George “Baban” Koshi Vargis was born on April 3, 1944, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, to K. Varghese (Koithodatu) and Aleyamma (Manaloor) Koshi. He grew up in Mumbai, playing with his sister and neighborhood friends around Matunga, while remaining closely connected to his Kerala roots by reading, writing, and speaking Malayalam, singing hymns with his mother, aunties, and sister, and spending summers with his grandparents in Kerala.

After earning top marks while completing a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Baban emigrated to the United States in 1964, one of the first in his family to do so, to attend the University of California, Berkeley. While living with two other Indian immigrants, he earned a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and began a professional life that eventually led him to Southern California.

On May 10, 1971, Baban married Vilja Anna Jacob (Chunkath / Pallipuram) in Mumbai and together they lived in Pasadena, California. They pursued additional education and built their careers, settling in West Hills in 1977, where they made their home for nearly five decades.Baban worked in manufacturing and consulting and later leveraged his engineering background to invest in real estate throughout Southern California. He was deeply proud to be one of the founding members of the Mar Thoma Church of Los Angeles, working alongside fellow Mar Thomites in the early 1970s to establish the congregation. He remained active in church life through Sunday School and Youth Fellowship. Even as his health declined, he faithfully watched church services each week, finding joy in the beauty of the liturgy and the Malayalam hymns he loved so dearly.

Baban and Vilja were blessed with their daughter, Elizabeth, in 1982. Though a strict father, he was a softie at heart, most evident when patiently brushing Elizabeth’s long hair or carefully setting out bowls of milk and treats for his beloved cats and dogs. He had a deep love for Los Angeles, from Wayne Gretzky and Kobe Bryant to evenings at the Hollywood Bowl and visits to the Getty Museum. One of his greatest pleasures was driving his Porsche through the Sepulveda Pass, along the Pacific Coast Highway, or winding through Topanga Canyon.

He was preceded into heaven by his beloved wife Vilja; his parents, K. V. and Aleyamma Koshi; his sister Mary Oommen; sister-in-law Shehnaz Jacob; nephew Rahul Sebastian; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cherished pets: Tiffany, Vanessa, Ian, Misty, Kuchapoo, Sophia, Sonia, Felicity, Cecily, Julia, Olivia, and Emma.

Baban is survived by his daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law Nick; his grandchildren, Elina and Dylan; his aunt Susy George; brother-in-law Sam; nephews Shawn and Steve; and many members of his extended family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the SDM Cancer Relief Fund (https://www.sdmcancer.org/donate) or the Mar Thoma Church of Los Angeles (https://www.lamarthoma.org/).

A funeral service for Baban will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the St. John's Episcopal Church, 85 E 100 N, Logan, Utah. A viewing will be held in the evening of Friday, March 6, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm also at the St. John's Episcopal Church. The interment will be at the Providence City Cemetery.

For questions regarding Baban’s services, please contact White Pine Funeral Services at 435-709-6800, who can assist in reaching the family.