Karen Linda Poole Lenker

October 2, 1942 - November 10, 2024

Karen Lenker, age 82, passed away peacefully on November 10, 2024. Karen was born in Seattle Washington to Dorothy Mary (Molly) Versturme-Bunbury Poole and HM (Dick) Poole. After starting life in the PNW, Karen didn’t stay in one place very long during childhood. She took pride in learning to make new friends as they moved almost annually before arriving in Westfield, New Jersey when she was in middle school. Karen graduated from the Oak Grove School in Maine and Endicott Junior College in 1963 before embarking on a career as a medical secretary in New York City. It was here, through the magic of good friends, a little match making and a fabulous New Year’s Eve party that she met Bill Lenker.

Karen and Bill married in 1966 and eventually settled in Southeastern Pennsylvania to raise their family. After spending her childhood moving, Karen embraced living in Broomall, West Chester and Berwyn over the next 58 years.

Karen was blessed to have a tremendous circle of friends. The people she met through her neighborhood bridge group, the “lunch bunch”, her children’s schools, weekends in Happy Valley cheering on our beloved Nittany Lions, volunteering at the polls, the Old Eagle Garden Club, St. David’s Episcopal Church, the Aronimink Golf Club Book Club and her time living at White Horse Village were truly incredible. Karen had also collected friends going back as far as middle school who were still some of her very closest buddies. We’d love to thank each and every one of you for continuing to enrich her world as Rheumatoid Arthritis made daily life more and more difficult.

Karen is pre-deceased by her husband, William Lenker and her sister, Melinda Poole Grizzell. She is survived by her brother, Tom Poole (Lindsborg, KS), daughter, Gretchen Larsen (Berwyn, PA) and son, Bill Lenker (Tenino, WA) as well as grandchildren, Elizabeth and Brooks Larsen (Berwyn, PA), Sena Markowitz (Santa Barbara, CA), Emma Lenker (San Luis Obispo, CA) and Sadie Lenker (Olympia, WA).

Interment at St. David’s Episcopal Church will be private. If donations are something you enjoy, the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation would welcome a gift in memory of Karen. As many of you know, Karen was cared for at White Horse Village in their Canterbury Skilled Nursing Unit for the past eight years. Our family is beyond grateful for the kindness and excellent care provided by everyone at White Horse Village and Main Line Hospice. In honor of Karen, please pay it forward and make time to visit someone living with health challenges. Karen would ask that you bring them a coffee and some good chocolate.

Arthritis Foundation, Eastern PA

Attention: Holly Maddams

901 Byers Drive, #1062

Glen Mills, PA 19342

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I was truly blessed to have enjoyed Karen as my college roomate and dear friend for many, many years thereafter. Her constant strength and positive attitude has given me such encouragement to face life's challenges with courage and a silent strength. She has truly been a shining star and guiding light in my life. I feel extremely blessed to have had dear Karen apart of my live. Wendy Greenwell Craven

Dear Gretchen, I loved the idea of visiting someone dealing with health challenges. It is a constant need with our older friends, family and in our retirement community. I shared my thoughts with you earlier about what a terrific lady Karen was and how gracious she was suffering through the many years of this severe illness. I know the family is happy that she is now at peace. She was blessed to have had you over these many years as her constant companion and helpmate. Take care, Pat and Bob Hunt

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.

Karen Linda Poole Lenker

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