George Lea Vannix

1929 - 2017

George Lea Vannix

Somis, CA

GEORGE LEA VANNIX completed his many earthly callings and went to sleep in Jesus on Monday, 16 October 2017, at his home in Somis, CA. He was born in St. Louis, MO, on 8 September 1929, third son of Cecil Hobart and Eloise Staughton Vannix. His family followed his father's road construction work around western Illinois and environs through the Depression, then moved to California in 1937, settling in Glendale, where he worked his way through Glendale Union Academy, graduating in 1946. He pursued his collegiate career at La Sierra College (now University), earning a BA in Theology in 1950, and the keen interest of a classmate, Gloria Inez Kinch. He went to the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in Takoma Park, MD, returning with his MA in 1951 to marry Gloria on 19 August in Pasadena, and to start his ministerial efforts. The next year, he was sent to Oxnard to shepherd the local flock, and grew to love the wonderful local climate. He then matriculated into the class of 1957 at the College of Medical Evangelists (now Loma Linda University School of Medicine) at the urging of his physician brother Bob. After completion of his clinical years and internship at the White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles in 1958, he practiced medicine in Burlington, IA, then completed a year of surgical residency in Santa Barbara, CA, then pursued practice in Huntsville, AL, Hapeville, GA, Taipei, Taiwan, and Forest Grove, OR, before returning to southern California for good in 1966, settling in Camarillo. He practiced in the Pleasant Valley (Camarillo, Port Hueneme, and Oxnard) until his retirement in 2004.

He was devoted to his patients, available essentially always, and never gave up the tradition of making house calls; his patients were, in turn, devoted to him. He was a lifelong student, of medicine and much else, especially the Scriptures; he was also a dedicated writer and Sabbath School teacher. He was an athletic youth, and in his adult years, he particularly enjoyed tennis and croquet. He was an avid hiker, birdwatcher, and stargazer, as well as a passionate amateur photographer. He traveled extensively, predominantly to US wildlands, and hiked significant portions of the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails. But most of all he cherished his wife, his family, his church, and his Lord, and deemed no request, effort, or task to be beneath him while in service to these, his treasures. He was a major force in seeing through the design, completion, and furnishing of the Camarillo SDA Church (3975 E. Las Posas Rd.), and so his life will be celebrated there on Saturday evening, 11 November 2017, at 7:15 PM, with his beloved Pastor Lonnie Melashenko officiating.

He was predeceased by his parents, his two older brothers, Cecil Hobart Vannix, Jr., and Robert Staughton Vannix, his wife and constant companion Gloria, and one granddaughter, Kirsten Noelle Vannix. He is survived by his daughter, Linda Louise Lockwood and her husband Brent Lockwood of Somis, CA, and by his son, David Lee Vannix and his wife Rosemary Hannema-Vannix of Redlands, CA, as well as two adored grandchildren, Lisa Lorraine Lockwood, and Ian Sinclair Hannema Vannix. In lieu of flowers, donations to any of his almae matres (lasierra.edu, andrews.edu, or flu.edu), or to the Adventist ministries of The Voice of Prophecy (voiceofprophecy.com), It Is Written (itiswritten.com), or Faith For Today (faithfortoday.tv) would be his wish.