Karen J Thorpe

I when to High School with Karen at PHS, we were best of friends, 24 years ago I when to her family reunion in Vienna, WV, it was great to see her again, little did I know it would be the last time I would see Karen, I always Love her, and would have married her, but she had other golds, I will always remember her fondly as one of my best friends, we use to meet once a year, God knows I will miss her madly, Michael Lee Province, Charleston, WV

Karen was a beloved friend and such a bright light. Where ever she went it shone and made anyone in its reach a happier, better person. I loved her for her eternal optimism, hope for a brighter day and faith in others and in God. Oh grave where is thy victory, oh death where is they sting? It is non existent because Karen lives on in each one of us. She will be missed, and it feel dimmer for a time but she’ll forever be with us shining her light down from above and encouraging us to keep on shining as well. Shine On!

Her bright shining smile always accompanied her greeting. She'll be missed.

I will start with my most memorable thoughts of Karen...laughing so hard
with sides aching with thoughts of "Thorpe".

It was winter/spring and the Ohio River had
flooded when Shirl, Karen, and I went on a trek off River Road in Vienna to check
out the river...when we saw the river had subsided and more "beach" was
there...I saw Karen start running and leaped in the air and off an
embankment down to the wet, sandy bank....it was that Karen, with the
lust for life and adventure, enjoying the day.

Well, it was not the best choice of places to leap...she landed
knee-deep in the wet sand..couldn't move or lift her legs and feet out of
the sand. We were all laughing so hard, until Karen realized she could
not pull herself out of those holes. She was truly "post holed" now.
Once realized, that Shirl and I could not get to her..she was stuck and
we would have joined in that snafu if we tried to help her. The only
thing we could do is make suggestions...."wiggle your legs
around".."make the holes wider so you can get out..." was the best
advice at the time..I really wanted to take a picture of that
scene...hold it for ransom or something??? but realized I just couldn't
do it. Karen was to the point of tears...struggling to free
herself...after a few more minutes, she did manage to pull her feet out
of her shoes then was able to pull the shoes out too...she was a muddy,
sandy, gritty, messy sight. We did help her wash her shoes in the river
and she walked into the river to clean her legs and arms as best she
could. She put her shoes back on and "squished" along back to the car.
We did do more laughing after the fact but I would bet that was not the
last time for that kind of "adventure" on her part...just not around the
sandy banks of the Ohio River.

Sorry to hear about your death you're you're safe now and you're not suffering anymore God bless you and I'm sorry God's with you you went home to be with your God thank God for that amen I never met you but what Kathy tells me she was really really good person

After the Women's March 2017, I went to a restaurant with Kathye, Shirl and others who had gone to the protest. Karen met us there. She couldn't go because of her illness, but she was as revved up as the rest of us and wanted to hear all about it. We sat at a table in Racine's and cheered when the TVs showed scenes from marches around the country and really cheered when footage from Denver played. I know from my few times around her and from talking to Kathye through the years that her good spirits and enthusiasm that day were normal. It was who she was and part of what made her special. I am so happy that Kathye and Karen had so many years together. I hope Karen's memory and love are a comfort to Kathye and Karen's friends and family.

A very bright light in our world has gone out and I will miss her terribly. I have known Karen for over 30 years and what a marvel her friendship meant to me. She was loved dearly by everyone she came in contact with. She made me laugh and cry and was the "wind beneath my wings". Peace be with you my dearest friend.

Maya Angelou said: "And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed." More than anyone in my life Karen saw and believed in the best of me. That soothing electric vibration that fills my space is her sparkle. She always brought the sparkle... it was a way of being....it was and always will be Karen!

I saw this quote today and immediately thought of Karen..."ripples....when you create a difference in someone's life, you not only impact their life, you impact everyone influenced by them throughout their entire lifetime" (Danielle Doby)...Karen created a difference! She may not walk this earth as she once did, yet she is not gone...

Karen was living in Prichard Hall at Marshall University the first time I saw her. I walked into her dorm room and there she was strumming a guitar, girls gathered around -- Karen at the center of things. That was years ago, of course, but Karen's love of music, people, and life was a constant. Even when her health was failing, it was you she wanted to hear about. She listened and uplifted. She made the world a better place in every way, whether it be through her decency, curiosity and deep kindness or the way she literally lit up the world with the juniper bush she and her partner, Kathye, decorated every Christmas with so many lights they were sure you could see it from space. Karen called it their "glow ball," just as she named their almost-as-bright snowman, Alexander. She was creative that way and in so many other ways, once spending months turning a storage room into what she called their "tiny room," decorated with dozens of album covers and candles and a miniature juke box. I was blessed to be Karen and Kathye's friend lo these many years and to share in so many of their stories, the best and hardest of life's moments. Karen will be deeply missed, though I believe her spirit is floating free.

I had the good fortune to work for Karen at Metro State from 1990 to 1995. I learned many things from her that have informed my own journey as a Chief Student Affairs Officer. I am grateful that I was able to watch and learn from her during a formative chapter in my own professional life. She cared deeply for both students and staff at Metro State.

Karen had such a strong spirit and vivacious personality. Her beautiful smile would light up a room and she always made you feel welcome in her home. Or at the fire pit with marshmallows. She will be missed. Big love to her family and friends, especially her lifelong partner and best friend Kathye. ❤

Karen was my mentor, boss and friend! Dr. Karen Thorpe served MSU as the Vice President for Student Services. She was a leader who transformed lives. She founded the MLK Peace Breakfast. She was responsible for funding so many diversity programs such as the Latino Literary Symposium. It later became the Richard T Castro and Virginia Castro Visiting Professor. She had great vision. Many of her staff, including myself, were fortunate to make her vision a reality.
She lead with wisdom, compassion and a whole lot of humor! As Dean (she promoted me), she and I started numerous programs that helped students find community. I was her Robyn to her Batwoman! She embodied the ideal educator! Well done, Karen! Presente!

Reading Karen's eloquent obituary made her come alive for me as I remembered our days as students at Parkersburg High School. Karen was my Biology lab partner as well as my friend. Because of her infectious sense of humor, we laughed our way through the gruesome animal dissections we were required to do. I was fortunate to reconnect with Kathye a few years ago while visiting Colorado. With a smile and sparkling eyes, Kathye told me about her life with Karen. It was obvious to me that the love they shared was something special. Kathye recently told me that Karen was like fine wine - she just became better as she aged.

Karen was a force to be reckoned with, in the best possible way. She was smart, funny, creative, caring, generous, loving and incredibly brave. She cared deeply about her partner Kathye, her family and her many friends. She encouraged everyone and changed more than one life along the way. She brought energy and fun and love everywhere she went. And when she put her mind to something, there was no stopping her. And scleroderma may have ravaged her body, but it never daunted her spirit. And most of all she just made everyone's life a better, in ways large and small. We will miss her more than we can express.

Karen made this world a brighter, more joyful place. I had the privilege of caring for her has her primary care physician for about 10 years and will miss her dearly. She was stoic in the face of severe disease and yet managed to bring a smile to my face every time I saw her or spoke to her.

It’s hard to think of a story about Karen that doesn’t immediately draw a smile or laugh. She was someone I looked up to my entire life. As a child, I thought she was so cool, adventurous, and a free spirit. As I got older, she represented strength, bravery and resilience. Aunt Karen’s visits to West Virginia were my favorite. We’d talk about pop stars, actors and the next big movies to hit the box office. No trip was complete without a group rendition of the song "We Are Family". More than the laughs and good times, Karen always reminded me how much I mattered. Even when she was facing trials no one could see, she never hesitated to take a minute to make you smile. The world is certainly a little less bright without Karen.

Karen had the most amazing ability to make every person she spoke to feel so valued and heard. She had a brightness that made her absolutely glow. I can’t remember all the conversations we had but I remember how special she always made me feel. Our deepest condolences to her family.

Gayle and John

Karen was the best sister-in-law imaginable. I loved her dearly. I'll always remember celebrating Christmases with matching hats or shirts, hearing her tell me to "get them boots on," and most of all feeling her caring and supportive spirit when I needed it most. She was generous and gracious - always. What a loss this is - for all of who loved her and saw what a remarkable person she was.

Condolences to her family

It was a privilege to be a friend of Karen's. I will miss so much--our happy hour get-togethers at Ed's in Estes Park and our conversations about politics and the meaning of life—but mostly I loved her curiosity and her enthusiasm for life, which she maintained even when she was suffering. She leaves a huge hole in the world.