Karen Allen Parry

Karen Allen Parry, a delightfully angelic baby girl was born into this world Aug. 15, 1938. Robert and Marie Allen had the joy of raising her in Culver City.

She grew up with her fun-loving sister, Pamela Ardell Green, in Encino and Pacific Palisades. She was always as bright and social as an adult. She went to University High School in West Los Angeles, where she was quite active in student body activities.

She attended Scripps College and the University of California Santa Barbara, where she graduated with bachelor's degree in sociology. While attending Scripps College, she was fortunate enough to meet her future husband, Walt Parry, and they were married in 1957.

They poured their love into three children, Kathryn, Deborah and Douglas, and currently have four grandchildren, Jennifer, Rachel, John and Christina.

Parry always loved reading, travel and family gatherings. Her family resided in four of the most beautiful places on earth – Coronado, Santa Barbara, Fallbrook and Yorkshire, England. Walt Parry was an exchange teacher in England. While in Coronado, Walt Parry was in the Navy and later became a high school teacher and coach.

During the past 51 years while in Fallbrook, Karen Parry pursued her interests that all seemed to include loving people and loving Christ. She held the position of being a cherished, encouraging and supportive friend in her birthday group, book club and several Bible studies.

She was an elder in the Presbyterian Church, which is now called SonRise Christian Fellowship Church. At the church, she was the president of the Women's Association, initiated the first women's retreat and led the Worship and Building and Grounds committees. She and Walt Parry started the Mariners, a second adult Sunday school class, dinner fellowship groups, an annual community senior citizens brunch and Young Life with help from other churches.

Karen Parry also served others on the Salvation Army Disaster Team in Oklahoma after a tornado and in New York City after the 9/11 attack.

For several years, she was a medical assistant for two physicians and the Indian education coordinator at the high school. Her love of books made her a good fit as a technician at the Fallbrook Library. She supported many causes that she believed in, including volunteering for the Angel Society and the Fallbrook Hospital Auxiliary.

Parry's personality seemed to overflow naturally and continually. Her admirable traits were endless – she was loving, caring, gracious, generous, resourceful, grateful, gentle, dependable and genuine. She was positive in every way and in every pursuit. She was truly an angel in everyone's mind.

Soon after her 80th birthday, the Lord called her home, Aug. 23, while her whole family was at her side. She courageously faced the effects of Parkinson's disease for the past 15 years. She is at peace, knowing her savior was the Lord of her life and trusting that the best is yet to come.

A celebration of Karen Parry's life will be held at the home she designed and enjoyed for the last 22 years at 1379 Las Vistas Drive in Fallbrook. The family welcomes all who loved her to come celebrate her goodness, 9:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 7.

A lunch will be served after the service.

Those who plan to attend, call (760) 728-1281 and leave a message, so the family can insure enough seats and food for all.

In lieu of any flowers, the family asks that any gifts or donations be given to organizations Karen Parry loved: SonRise Christian Fellowship Church, the Salvation Army or Habitat for Humanity.