11/24/1942—3/8/2024

Karen Owen passed away gently and peacefully in her sleep on March 8 in West Hartford, Connecticut. Throughout her life, she was incredibly social and an avid learner. She loved to meet and visit with people and was very ambitious, juggling many activities in her community. Countless stories make up a life, but a central theme for Karen was that she deeply loved people, family, and friends. She especially loved being a grandmother and cherished each of her 6 grandchildren and was so happy to meet her first great grandchild.

Born on November 24, 1942, to Kelly and Ona Owen in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, the family moved to Oklahoma City, OK, when Karen was 3 years old. She grew up involved in many activities, including dance & piano lessons, playing the French horn, and playing percussion instruments. She participated in many clubs at Northwest Classen High School before heading off to Oklahoma State University, where she continued to be active in college clubs including her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. She also earned a B.S. in Mathematics with a Minor in Education.

She married Steve Wilson, and they started and raised their family in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Through the 1960s and 70s she remained ambitious managing motherhood, being a farmer’s wife, raising Shih Tzu puppies, earning a Master’s degree in Counseling, and working as a math teacher at East Jr. High and at Unity High school and then as a school counselor at Woodlands and Roosevelt. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, in the Kappa Alpha Theta Alumni group, served on the board of the Salvation Army, and volunteered as a Camp Fire Girl leader.

In the 1980s she worked as a computer programmer at Conoco. She moved to Connecticut in the 1990s, worked at Travelers Insurance, and earned another Master’s degree in Human Services Administration. In the 2000s, she achieved her lifelong dream: earning her PhD in Psychology. She was then employed by the State of Oklahoma, Department of Corrections, and also worked at several Departments of Veterans Affairs, where she was honored to help those who served our country.

Karen never met a stranger, and lived in many states. She served on countless boards, in volunteer organizations and was always an active member of a church.

She is predeceased by her father Robert “Kelly” Owen, mother Ona Armistice Thurman Owen, her sister Patti Sue Owen and son Brent Allen Wilson. She is survived by former husband Steve Wilson of Ponca City, son Kent Wilson and his wife Tami Wilson of Stillwater, OK, granddaughter and husband Emma Wilson and Justin Duewall, grandson and wife Brent and Kelly Wilson and great-granddaughter Sloane Grace Wilson, granddaughter Annie Kate Wilson, grandson Eli Wilson. Daughter Shea Wilson Mitlehner and her husband William Mitlehner of Glastonbury, CT, grandson Derek Mitlehner, granddaughter Jessica Mitlehner, and sister Kathi Owen Jackson.

Celebration of Life will be arranged in late spring or early summer. Donations can be made to Congregational Church of South Glastonbury or Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Paid Obituary