| Graduation Year | Class of 1956 |
| Date of Passing | Nov 04, 2015 |
| About | Karen Walker Waggoner, beloved wife, mother, friend, teacher, author and loving mentor to many passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Karen was born to the late Joseph Walker and Lucile Jessup Walker, on March 17, 1938. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Lowell David Waggoner of Flippin, Ark., son Joseph Walker Waggoner and daughter in law Lynda Walker Waggoner, grandchildren Ashley and Justin Waggoner of Manchester, Connecticut, son Jeffrey Neil Waggoner and daughter in law Pamela J. Sewell-Waggoner of Wesminster, Colorado, and grandchildren, Amelia and Gregory Waggoner, sister Linda Christian of Colorado Springs, Colo., and many, many family and friends who surrounded her. We will miss you. Karen grew up primarily in Rushville, where she developed a deep, lifelong passion for literature. She graduated from Rushville High School in 1956, and graduated from Christian College in Columbia, Mo., in 1958 with an AA in English Literature. On Sept. 27, 1958, she and Lowell David Waggoner of Rushville were married in Rushville. Thereafter, they started a life together outside the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida. Their first son, Joseph Walker Waggoner, was born in October, 1960 in Millington, Tennessee, and their second, Jeffrey Neil Waggoner, in June of 1964 in Rushville. During her time in Florida, she completed her Bachelor of Arts in English at Stetson University in 1963, and taught for several years at Sanford Junior High School in Sanford, Fla. In June of 1968, the family began a journey to Asia that would forever alter their lives and perspectives. The family settled near Naval Air Station, Atsugi, Japan. While there, Karen learned to thrive in a deeply foreign land and made lifelong friends. She taught English to Japanese families and built a wonderful home, under difficult circumstances, for a husband commuting into and out of a war and two young boys. The family transferred to the Naval Station at Agana, Guam in 1971 and stayed there until return to the U.S. mainland in 1972. Upon return, the family settled in Manchester, Conn. In Manchester, Karen taught English at Bennett Jr. High School and Manchester High School. She was well known for her teaching of literature, film, propaganda, and critical thinking. She passed on a love of literature, theater, creative writing, and critical/analytical writing to many of her students and to her sons. Karen completed Master of Arts in Education at the University of Connecticut in 1978. Karen's short stories were published in the Hartford Courant, New York Times, and other lesser known venues. In 2003, her book, "On My Honor, a Navy Wife's Vietnam Story" was published. In November of 1994, Karen and Dave retired to Flippin, Ark., and reoriented themselves to a life without making a living, but focusing on purpose. Karen was active in the substance abuse community, helping herself and others, she volunteered at OMART, a drug and alcohol abuse rehab center, counseling and teaching life and business-preparation skills to hundreds of men and women recovering from addiction. During Karen’s entire life, she was tremendously creative making many of the family’s home furnishings and even clothes for herself and others. Like her grandmother, she enjoyed nearly all arts and painted and created many different art projects. This love of art she passed on to many of her children and grandchildren. She was an attentive, supporting, and guiding wife and mother who gave support, encouragement, and boundaries and passed on many life skills and deep passions. She was a fierce advocate for personal independence and responsibility and for giving people the help they need to get to themselves to that state. She goes to a better place, confident in God’s acceptance for having followed his most universal precept: to love and support others, to give of yourself to the World, to support yourself and develop others and appreciate the joy and beauty of life. A memorial service will be held at Roller Funeral Home in Mountain Home, Ark., at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14. Karen will be ultimately laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia, on a date to be determined. Memorials may be made to Hospice House of the Ozarks, 701 Burnett Dr., Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870-508-1771, www.hospiceoftheozarks.com) or Shriners Hospitals for Children. |
