Varujan Melik-Keramian

Varujan Garabed Arakel Melik-Keramian, a man who lived a life of love and devotion, passed away on June 11th, 2023 in New Braunfels, Texas. Varujan was born in Khanaqin, Iraq, in 1937 and spent most of his youth living in Baghdad. He immigrated to the United States in 1954, the first in his family to do so, and built a life full of love, family, and friendships in the U.S.

An open-minded man of faith and community, Varujan was an inspiration to all who knew him. With a kind and hospitable spirit, he spent his days helping others, volunteering with his church, collecting friends from all walks of life, and gathering Armenians into communities wherever he went. His love of family and friends extended to his in-laws, the Toronjo, Peveto, and Vance Families, whom he loved dearly as his own.

Varujan was a lover of life, and a force to be reckoned with. He had a passion for adventure and his travels took him to more than 65 countries. He also had a mischievous side, and his grandchildren will always remember his playful pranks and his fierce competitiveness at family game nights.

Varujan attended secondary boarding school in Syria at Aleppo American College and then attended university at the University of Chicago and then Lamar University in Texas. With a sharp mind and a talent for engineering, Varujan worked for BF Goodrich and Occidental Chemical Corp., where he designed plants in Tehran, Iran, and Bangkok, Thailand. He retired as the head of engineering at OxyChem in Ingleside, Texas, leaving behind a legacy of excellence and achievement.

Varujan was a devoted husband to his wife, Gayle Toronjo Keramian, and a loving father to his daughter Michelle Melik-Keramian, his daughter and son-in-law, Amy and Matthew Brown, his granddaughter Gabriella Melik Keramian Brown, and grandsons Matthew Lucas Varujan Brown and Sebastian Dashiell Arakel Brown. He is also remembered by his many nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts and uncles including: Garabed, Arakel, Vachig Ramses, and Arakel King Melik Keramian; Jackson and Christopher Allers; Lola, Paul, Kathy, Ava and Cyrus Bubbosh; Hamig, Medik, Armen, and Sevana Abkarian; and Aslan, Volga, Gevo and Arsineh Abcarian. He will also be missed by the large Armenian community who he grew up with in Baghdad and many dear friends collected over his lifetime.

Varujan is preceded in death by his mother and father, Beatrice Mardiros Apkarian Melik-Keramian and Garabed Arakel Melik-Keramian and his siblings Hasmig Allers, Vachig Melik-Keramian, Angele Bubbosh and brother-in-law Edward Bubbosh. We remember Varujan's love of life, his compassionate service, his persevering strength, and his inspiring spirit. We mourn his passing, but we also celebrate the countless joyous memories and the legacy he leaves behind.

A viewing will be held at Forest Park Funeral Home on Thursday, June 22nd from 4-7 pm at 12800 Westheimer Rd. Services will be held at St. Kevork Armenian Church of Houston, 3211 Synott Rd, Houston, Tx. 77082 on June 23rd at 11:00 a.m.

Donations can be made in his honor to the Armenian General Benevolent Union’s Opportunity Fund which is used to respond immediately to Armenians facing unexpected challenges at the link below: https://agbu.org/memory-varujan-melik-keramian