Mr. Kovil P. Abraham rested peacefully and returned to his heavenly home at the age of 85 on October 12, 2018. He held himself to a high standard in all aspects of his life, from faith to family to education.
He was born on June 28, 1933, in a small village called Neivilai in southern India. He attended Neivilai Elementary School and Margoschis High School in Nazareth, India, for grades 6-11, followed by studies at St. John’s College in Palayamkottai. He was the first to go to college from his family and emerged as a gold medalist from GCT College of Engineering. He also tenured as a professor at PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, India. He later went on to receive two masters degrees in civil engineering, one from Guindy Engineering College, Chennai, and another from Germany. He excelled in academics.
He married Sugi Joseph on May 27, 1957, and they were blessed with two daughters, Rani and Selvi, who they raised with patience, discipline and humility. The family moved to Germany in 1964, then to Toronto, Canada, for a brief stay in 1967, and then to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1969. They relocated to Katy, Texas in 1978. After the onset of Sugi’s illness, Kovil and Sugi moved to Sugar Land to be closer to their daughters.
He spent 25 years as a civil engineer at Dow Chemical Company before taking early retirement to care for his wife. Aside from his career at Dow, he was a successful real estate entrepreneur who owned commercial and residential properties in and around Houston. He had an impeccable work ethic and was a great provider for his family.
Kovil was kind, intelligent, compassionate and a generous philanthropist who put the needs of others above his own, and touched and uplifted many families and friends. He was a pious man who was actively involved in church throughout his life and also had a great passion for serving Tamil communities. In Cleveland, Ohio, he founded the Bharathi Cultural Society and Indian Christian Association. In Houston, he sowed the seeds for the first Tamil Christian Church and also served as the President for Bharathi Kalai Manram, the Tamil cultural association in Houston.
He loved to garden, attend church services, see Tamil movies and plays, travel, and watch the Houston Rockets play!
He is dearly missed by his loved ones, who celebrate his life and eternal rest. He is survived by his two daughters, Rani and Selvi; son-in-law Ram; five grandchildren, Tara, Sarah, Stephen, Monica and Scott; and many loving families and friends.
We pray for his soul to rest in peace.
The viewing and funeral service will be held on Tuesday, October 16, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Christ Church, 3300 Austin Parkway in Sugar Land, Texas, 77479.
