Reverend George V. Erickson, 1931-2024.
A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, July 20 at 2:00 PM at Stone Church of Willow Glen, 1108 Clark Way, San Jose, 95125.
The Reverend George V. Erickson, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), moved to the house of the Lord on June 27, 2024, after 71 years of ministry. He was 92.
Born in Osceola Mills PA, Erickson earned his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Redlands CA. He began his early ministry at the age of 21 with the Christian and Missionary Alliance establishing a church in Modesto and Petaluma. He graduated from Fuller Seminary and went on to San Francisco Theological Seminary to become a Presbyterian Minister. He was ordained as the Assistant Pastor at Calvary Presbyterian Church in South Pasadena and in 1966 he became the Senior Pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church of Camarillo where he served for 18 years.
An Eagle Scout and life-long Rotarian, Reverend Erickson was instrumental in establishing Pleasant Valley Hospital, Camarillo Community Bank and Community Care and Hospice Chapter. Soon he was at his desk raising funds for church development and the San Jose Family Shelter providing food, shelter and counseling to Mothers and her children. After retirement, Erickson served as interim pastor at four churches in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Using his rich tenor voice, Reverend Erickson loved singing, leading music, playing the guitar and preaching.
Throughout his long and distinguished ministry, Reverend Erickson lived a life of compassion and justice, seeking to promote the unconditional love and acceptance of all of God’s children. While in Watsonville, he authored a weekly social justice column for the Register Pajaronian newspaper. According to a letter to the editor, November 15, 2008, “Erickson seems to embody that which is worthwhile and humanizing in Christianity. He writes of acceptance, forgiveness, love of fellow humans and all those things that made Jesus an excellent moral and ethical teacher.”
“Erickson seems to embody that which is worthwhile and humanizing in Christianity. He writes of acceptance, forgiveness, love of fellow humans and all those things that made Jesus an excellent moral and ethical teacher.”
Erickson is survived by his wife, Donna; daughters Cathy and Sandy; stepdaughters Jennifer and Lisa; four grandsons, five step-grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, July 20 at 2:00 PM at Stone Church of Willow Glen, 1108 Clark Way, San Jose, 95125. Reception to follow. Internment will be at Oak Hill Memorial Park, 300 Curtner Ave, San Jose, 95125.
Please contact the presbytery office for an address to send cards to the family or write to dderickson@rocketmail.com.