Kurella Triyambaka Sarma, our beloved father and grandfather, completed his earthly journey on August 11, 2026, at the age of 89.

Kurella Triyambaka Sarma (KTS) was born on August 20, 1936 in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India and raised in Amalapuram with his five siblings and numerous cousins. With his father, Dr. Kurella Hari Hara Swamy, as a mentor, he pursued a medical degree and graduated from Andhra Medical College in 1960. He took the bold step to move to the United States in 1967 to further his medical training. Though he was on a “5-year plan” to check out this new country, he ended up creating a life and legacy here. He embraced life in the United States while maintaining his cultural roots, fostering those ties to India and culture in his children. With his wife, Annapoorna, he raised two children, built Indian communities in many places, encouraged numerous nieces and nephews to pursue educational opportunities here, supported extended family, and fostered countless friendships that last to this day.

Dr. K.T. Sarma dedicated nearly 40 years to his career as a surgeon where he was highly respected for his dedication, wisdom, and mentorship. After finishing residency in St. Louis, Missouri, he was recruited to work in a small rural community - Jerseyville, Illinois. He then recruited his younger brother, Dr. Srirama Kurella, and his spouse (Uma) to live and work there. Seenu, Sudha, Manju, Sailu, and Adit were raised together, with two sets of parents in a joint family environment filled with love, joy and support.

His greatest pride was always his family, including extended family of his siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. sister and brother in laws, and more. He spent his lifetime guiding his children and grandchildren, supporting his community, and sharing his love for classical Carnatic music, tennis, playing cards (rummy and bridge) with his St. Louis buddies, acting, Telugu poetry, and Hindu philosophy.

His legacy of kindness and wisdom will live on through his surviving family: his children, Srinivas (and spouse Vijaya) and Sudha (and spouse Rahm); and his grandchildren, Sanjiv (and spouse Vaishnavi) and Prashanth Sarma and Divya and Roshan Gummuluru. He joins in eternity his parents, Dr. Kurella Hari Hara Swamy and Gayathri Devi who provided a foundation of piety, principled living, and service to others (seva). He is preceded in death by his wife, Annapoorna Sarma (October 27, 2007), his younger brother (Srirama Sarma Kurella - August 2, 2026), and two sisters - Mrs. Lalita Kandarpa and Mrs. Devaki Mylavarapu.

With loving affection and sincere gratitude,

Seenu, Vijaya, Prashanth, Sanjiv and Vaishnavi Sarma

Sudha Sarma and Suryaram Gummuluru, Divya, and Roshan

Online condolences and memories can be shared at: https://www.palmettofuneralgroup.com

A livestream of the ceremony will be available at and also as a recording after the event: https://www.youtube.com/@palmettofuneralgroup131.