Karen V Holton

Karen Virginia Holton, 76, of League City, Texas was reunited in heaven with her husband Bob, on Thursday, January 31, 2019. She suffered an unexpected brain hemorrhage on Saturday, January 25, and was brought home to the Crossings where she could be surrounded by those she loved for her final days.

Karen was born on November 18, 1942 in Rochester, MN to Simon (Spike) and Ethel Jepson. She was joined three years later by sister Alice Ann. She spent her childhood in Elmwood Park, Illinois and attended the University of Illinois for a time before graduating from University of Dubuque in 1963. She began her career as a Junior High English teacher in the northwest Chicago suburbs.

In 1970, Karen met her soulmate, Bob, at a singles group at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, IL. They were married in 1971 and settled in Wyckoff, New Jersey, where Karen focused on raising their four children. She was involved in various organizations including Grace United Methodist Church, PEO and Junior Women’s Club. Many lasting friendships were made over these years.

Bob’s career led them to move many times…. New Jersey, Kentucky, Texas, California and Ohio. One of Karen’s greatest gifts was her ability to settle her family in a new town and “bloom where she was planted”. She was one to never know a stranger; volunteered whenever there was a need and was always the first to reach out to those that were new.

While in Texas, Karen returned to teaching English at Clear Lake High School and later moved into high school counseling after earning her master’s in counseling at University of Houston Clear Lake in 1987.

This passion for helping others led her to become a Stephen Minister and trainer, a hospice volunteer, and a grief counselor while living in Worthington, OH. She had an uncanny ability to know when someone was down or needed a smile.

She and Bob retired to Coldspring, TX in 2003 where both were active in the Coldspring United Methodist Church. Karen volunteered at Care Share Mission, a local food pantry, and helped establish the Backpack Buddies program for disadvantaged school children of Coldspring.

Karen loved music and sang in church choirs throughout her life. She and Bob enjoyed attending community theater and concerts. They loved traveling and especially enjoyed the many riverboat cruises in Europe.

She and Bob moved to the Crossings Retirement Community in 2015 where she quickly established herself as the “social chair”. She always greeted everyone with a smile and an offer of help. She and Bob left a lasting imprint on the staff and residents.

Karen is survived by her sister, Alice Geils Nord and husband, Bernie, Mebane, North Carolina; her four children, Bill Holton and wife Mary Ann, Woodbury, MN; Susan Holton Harkins and husband, David, Houston; Michael Holton and wife, Kristal, League City; and Amy Holton Goudy and husband, Garrett, Pearland. She also leaves behind 11 grandchildren who brought her so much joy.

Karen’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, February 9, 2019, 10:00 am at Friendswood United Methodist Church – Wesley Hall, 110 N. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, TX 77546

Donations in memory of Karen may be made to Backpack Buddy/Houston Food Bank

https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/our-programs/backpack-buddy/

or to UMCOR – United Methodist Committee on Relief:

https://www.umcor.org

Condolences to the family may be sent to:

Amy Goudy 2409 Evergreen Drive, Pearland, TX 77581

[email protected]