Absent from the Body; Present with the Lord

Retired Bibles International representative, George Carapelle, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, November 12, 2011, at the age of 90. Brother Carapelle served as a Bibles International representative from 1986 to 1999, serving first on the East Coast and later in the Midwest.

Brother Carapelle had served in pastorates at Faith Baptist Church in Palmer, Massachusetts; Park Avenue Baptist Church in Binghamton, New York; and Westview Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, North Carolina before coming to BI. Soon after his retirement from Westview, he visited Bibles International. He was impressed with the work, so much so that he asked Director Fred Carlson what he could do to help. He joyfully accepted the opportunity to serve the Lord as a volunteer representative, never accepting any remuneration for his work.

Shortly after beginning his ministry with BI, the Lord chose to call George’s wife, Edna Peck Carapelle, to be with Him. In spite of that loss, George chose to press on in his ministry with BI. In His time, the Lord blessed Brother Carapelle with a second life mate, when He brought Miss Patricia Brannen into George’s life. Pat was thankful to serve beside her husband whenever possible as they ministered in churches and other venues.

In 1988, Brother Carapelle had the privilege of traveling to Mussoorie, India, where he observed a translation workshop. He would recount the events of that trip shortly before the Lord took him Home, saying that it was a life-changing occasion. “It was pure joy to meet our Indian translation teams. As the week developed and I observed their work, I was convinced that Bibles International had brought together choice men whose simple lives were completely dedicated to translation work. These men have expended themselves in arduous work through prayer and fervor looking for the day that their native languages will have excellent translations of the Word of God. They came prepared; they came to work; they came with an obvious burden. They came to be taught, to be directed, to be consulted. Their native respectful attitude refreshed us.”

Near the end of his long life, Pat said of her husband, “For 13 years he lived and breathed BI.” After having spent his life loving the written Word, what a joy it must be for him to be in the very presence of the Living Word.

We extend our sympathy to Pat Carapelle and to George’s three daughters: Mrs. Philip (Catherine) Strawn, Mrs. Robert (Donna) Gray, Beverly Carapelle, and other family members.