Karen P. Bates

Karen Parker Bates passed away in her home Dec 12, 2012 at age 69. She is survived by her loving husband, Paul Bates, her sister, Mary (Shelli) Tilbe, her nieces Alexandra Tilbe and Cynthia Blair McGivern, her nephews Homer Cusic and Kirk Cusic, her Aunts Betty Johnson and Avis Johnson, her Uncles Orin Johnson, Wayne Johnson and Harlan Johnson, her cousins Craig Koppen, Jan Buchanan and Elizabeth Blair and several of their children. Karen was born in Norfolk, VA June 25, 1943 and attended Granby High School, class of 61. She lived in Norfolk, VA, Washington DC, Baltimore, MD and Jacksonville, FL throughout her lifetime. Karen worked for the Norfolk Police Dept as a dispatcher during the early 1980s. She ended her work career at VP/LS as a Customer Service Specialist winning several employee awards including the Outstanding New Employee of the Year. She was a loved to cook, was an avid reader, and was the social one in our family who kept everyone up to the minute on current events. Even as her health began to decline she never stopped doing everything she could to have fun and make sure everyone else did too. She had a great sense of intelligence and humor. No one was ever bored when Karen was in the room. She will be missed beyond words. Her absence leaves a void in our hearts here on Earth but God called her home because He needed her in Heaven.