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Karen McGowan Obituary - Hill Funeral Home

Arrangements

Family and friends may call at Hill Funeral Home, 220 S. State St, Westerville, OH 4-7PM Thursday March 9, 2023, and a funeral services to be held at 11AM on Friday March 10, 2023, at the Central College Presbyterian Church Chapel. Rev. David Redding officiating. Interment to follow at Blendon Central Cemetery.

Thinking of your family. Karen was my late husband Jeff's secretary during his time with the Lancaster teacher's group. He spent nearly 10 years there and appreciated Karen's skill in managing his locals and his schedules.

Donna (Mrs. Jeff) Westfall

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Obituary for Karen McGowan

Karen McGowan 1947-2023

Karen McGowan

04/21/1947 - 03/03/2023

Karen Elaine McDannald McGowan, 75, of Westerville, died peacefully at her childhood home on Friday March 3, 2023.

 

She was born in Columbus, OH to the late Roger and Bonne Gillespie McDannald and was elder twin to Keith by 4 minutes. She attended Westerville Schools as a 4th generation McDannald, graduating from Westerville High School in 1965. After graduating, she travelled to Europe and stayed with her Scottish pen pal Betty (Blake) Fudge and the Rolland family and remained friends with both families for the rest of her life. While in Scotland, she visited the birthplace of her great grandparents in Airdrie, Scotland. Upon her return to the US, she met her future husband, Tom, at the BBF, who she wed on New Year’s Eve 1966. She was the only bride to attend early services the day after her wedding as Tom left for Ft. Polk, LA the next morning to prepare to go to Vietnam.

She graduated from Columbus Technical Institute becoming the first woman to obtain a degree in Architectural Drafting. She retired from the Ohio Education Association (OEA) after 26 years. She was an avid toll painter, traveler and bookworm. She enjoyed international trips with family and friends. In later years, she was a member of the Amalthea Historical Society, the Mid-Ohio Scottish Heritage Association and secretary for the Scottish American Cultural Society of Ohio.

She was proceeded in death by her loving husband of almost 35 years, Thomas Henry McGowan Jr., parents, Roger and Bonne McDannald, and in-laws Thomas H. Sr. and Phyllis McGowan. Left to cherish her memory are her devoted children, Bonne Rose and Thomas Henry III (Erin), granddaughter Kylie, cats Fiona and Flora, dogs Nessie and Airdrie; siblings Keith McDannald, Sharon Souder, and Bruce; brother in law Jim (RoseMary) McGowan, best friends Marcene (Larry) Santacrose and Betty (Bill) Fudge, friends Bill Peters & Reggie Dalton, Debbie & Gerry Russell, travel companions Brian McGeary & Ben Ricker (3 Bs and a K) and a host of extended family.

Family and friends may call at Hill Funeral Home, 220 S. State St, Westerville, OH 4-7PM Thursday March 9, 2023, and a funeral services to be held at 11AM on Friday March 10, 2023, at the Central College Presbyterian Church Chapel. Rev. David Redding officiating. Interment to follow at Blendon Central Cemetery.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Columbus Zoo American Association of Zoo Keepers (Columbus Zoo Chapter) Donation to Bowling for Rhinos - AAZK