Karen S. Golden Rodgers

| November 30, 2012

Karen S. Golden Rodgers of Manteo, NC, 56, departed this world on November 23, 2012 after a seven year battle with pseudomyxoma peritoneal cancer.

Karen’s life began on February 5, 1956 in Franklin, PA the oldest daughter of the late Clyde William (Bill) and Patricia Lee Dietz Golden.

Karen attended Salina Elementary School and graduated with honors in 1974 from Cranberry High School. Karen attended Clarion University and Gannon University taking various courses in Real Estate and Genealogical Research.

On June 14, 1975 Karen married the love of her life, Steven W. Rodgers at St. Patrick’s Church, Franklin, PA. The couple celebrated 37 years of marriage and he survives her in Manteo.

Karen’s first job was at Carson Plumbing Co. in Oil City, PA where she met Steve. She decided in 1977 to be a stay at home mom and returned to the workplace in 1987. She worked at the old First Seneca Bank in Oil City until the merger with National City in 1996. After moving to Manteo, NC in 1998, Karen was employed with Wachovia Bank as a branch manager and assistant vice president until her disability in 2007.

Karen not only worked outside the home, she had a genealogical research business from 1988 until 2007, and continued to help fellow genealogists with their research until her death. Genealogy was her passion and while in Venango Co., PA, she indexed many cemeteries, church records, and newspapers, and conducted cemetery tours during Heritage Week. She has traced her family back to Sir Francis Drake, President McKinley and was connected to almost every family that settled in Fryburg, PA. She wrote three genealogies on her various families and did a biographical and genealogy of the Mayors of Oil City. Writing was her passion and she completed several full-length stories, along with many short stories and poems. One of her last poems captured a Best in Show for the Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs in 2012. Her family was always surprised at the things she remembered and how she had the knack to pursue a lead to pull a story together. Among her other hobbies were sewing and jewelry making.

Karen was a member of the Roanoke Island Women’s Club, served as President of the Outer Banks Cancer Support Group, was newsletter editor of the Venango County Genealogical Club, and a member of the Venango County Historical Society. She was also a member since 1985 of the Association of Professional Genealogists and was a notary public. Karen became a Master Gardener through the Penn State program and always enjoyed gardening.

Karen leaves along with her husband Steve, her mother Pat Golden of Victory Heights, PA, her mother-in-law, Marian Rodgers of Oil City, PA, a brother Bruce (Renee) Golden of Victory Heights, and a sister, Leigh Ann (Roger) Matlock of Oil City, PA. Her cherished children, Jeffrey William (Alicia) Rodgers of Reno, PA and Kristin Elizabeth (Ryan) Anthony of Cary, NC, and three beautiful grandchildren, Noah Daniel Rodgers and Anna Sophia Grace Rodgers, both of Reno, PA and Ellis Ellsworth Anthony of Cary, NC.

She also leaves a brother-in-law, Curtis (Sheila) Rodgers of Erie, PA, a nephew Kristofer (Courtney) Golden of Oil City, and nieces Carrie Rodgers of Pittsburgh, Emily Rodgers and Gina Rodgers of Erie, and Loren Golden of Franklin, PA, and three great nephews, Ethan Rodgers, Alex Golden, and Mason Jones. Also surviving are her aunt Joyce (Larry) Kennedy of Oil City and uncle Don (Tonia) Golden of Midlothian, VA and many cousins. She is also survived by her two beloved four-legged caregivers, Rosie and Miley.

She was preceded in death by her father, Clyde William (Bill) Golden, father-in-law, William Rodgers, maternal grandparents Bill and Zada Dietz, and paternal grandparents, Clyde and Irma Golden, along with two aunts, Joan Mays and Jackie Crawford.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 am Tuesday in St. Patrick Church in Franklin.

Interment will be in Grove Hill Cemetery.

The Morrison Funeral Home is assisting the family with local arrangements.

Per Karen’s wishes, memorials should be made to the Outer Banks Cancer Support Group, 245 Woodland Drive, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 or the Venango County Genealogical Club, 2 Central Avenue, Oil City, PA 16301.


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Category: Obituaries