Karin Bancroft

Karin L. Bancroft VIRGINIA BEACH - Karin Lee Bancroft, nee Lankford, passed away peacefully in her sleep on the night of Nov. 12, 2008. She was born April 27, 1960. What we know about her is what she told her friends and the raveled mystery of the real truth. We know or have good reason to know that she was raised on a farm in Harlan County, Kentucky, and was the youngest of seven children. Her mother, a German immigrant, was the second wife of Clyde C. Lankford, who was a U.S. Army retiree. He and his third wife are both deceased. Karin came to Portsmouth around 1978 and worked in her aunt's flower shop and subsequently married Randy Scott Bancroft. Karin volunteered as an ombudsman and was trained for the duty by the Navy. She received many citations from the commanding officers of the ships on which her husband served, plus one from the commander of the Norfolk Naval Base. Karin was divorced after 20 years marriage and decided to stay in the area. She became involved with the Virginia Beach Community Chapel and its Outreach Program of helping the homeless and did so for three years until her passing. Karin was very religious and felt that helping the less fortunate was her life's calling. She oversaw the cooking of the food for the homeless, fed them, clothed them and found them jobs and she would go out of her way to protect them. Comments from her compatriots: Kind heart, helping hand; those she loved were not just friends, they were family; full of enthusiasm; so willing to love and to be loved; excited about the mission, God called her to; she loved God; and finally, she was zealous for good deeds. Rest in peace, Dear Karin, we, all of us loved you as you were because your beacon showed us our way. The remembrance service for Karin Lee will be held at Virginia Beach Community Chapel, 1261 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, Monday at 12:30 p.m. A graveside service for Karin Lee will be held at a later date to be announced and will be for her close friends only.