After seasons of dancing around a fate long known to The Big Bang Theory fans, Young Sheldon is finally confronting the heartbreaking moment that will forever change the Cooper family — George Cooper Sr.’s death. CBS has now officially confirmed that George’s funeral will take place in Season 7, Episode 13, fittingly titled “Funeral.”
For years, viewers of Young Sheldon have braced themselves for the inevitable. While The Big Bang Theory made it canon that Sheldon’s father passed away before the events of the parent series, the circumstances of George’s death have remained vague — sometimes inconsistent — leaving room for speculation and hope that the prequel might avoid depicting the tragedy altogether.
But with only four episodes left, the series is diving into its most emotional arc yet.
A Title That Speaks Volumes
CBS’s confirmation comes through the release of the final episode titles of Young Sheldon Season 7. While no official synopsis has been revealed, Episode 13’s stark title — “Funeral” — leaves little to the imagination. This suggests that George’s death will likely occur at the end of Episode 12 (“A New Home and a Traditional Texas Torture”) or at the very beginning of Episode 13.
There is no official word yet on what causes George’s passing. However, the show has consistently laid subtle groundwork for it, through references to his health issues and Sheldon’s scattered recollections in The Big Bang Theory. Sheldon and Mary have alluded to George’s unhealthy habits, and Young Sheldon has depicted him suffering health scares throughout the series.
How Will George Die?
The exact nature of George’s death remains one of the show’s final lingering mysteries. Despite his repaired image in Young Sheldon — one that starkly contrasts with Sheldon’s bitter memories in The Big Bang Theory — his death now looms large.
It’s widely believed that his passing will be sudden, aligning with past references that described it as an “unexpected” tragedy. This narrative approach also allows the showrunners to avoid heavy foreshadowing, which could lessen the emotional impact.
A Character Redeemed, A Loss Deeply Felt
Perhaps what makes this moment more painful is how Young Sheldon has reimagined George Cooper. Once painted as a flawed and even neglectful father, the prequel has shown him in a different light: loyal, loving, and far more complex than Sheldon’s childhood memories allowed. His retconned cheating scandal, now debunked by the show’s narrative, has given George a redemption arc — one that makes his upcoming death feel even more tragic.
His loss isn’t just the end of a father figure. It’s a seismic shift that will ripple through the lives of the Coopers — especially for Georgie, whose own story is set to continue in the spin-off Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage. With George gone, Georgie will be forced to step up and grow in ways we haven’t seen before.
Final Thoughts: The Last Goodbye
With the final episodes of Young Sheldon on the horizon, fans are preparing to say goodbye — not just to a beloved character, but to an entire era of storytelling. George’s funeral will mark a somber but necessary transition in the saga of the Coopers, and if the show’s writing so far is any indication, it’s bound to be both respectful and emotionally devastating.
The Cooper patriarch may be leaving the screen, but his presence — and his legacy — will live on in the stories that follow.
