SILVER SPRING, MD—The Reverend Karen B. Woodruff, a beloved priest, community leader, and advocate for social justice, passed away on June 5 in Silver Spring, Maryland, surrounded by family and supported by the good wishes of caring friends.
Karen was born in 1943 Ohio to Joy and Nedra Bishop. She grew up in Findlay and attended Wittenberg University, where she earned a bachelor’s in medical technology. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
In 1965, Karen married Robert Burnett and the couple made their home in Connecticut, where they raised two daughters. Karen continued her education at Yale, earning a master’s in divinity.
Following her divorce, Karen married The Reverend Ronald Lee Woodruff in 1990, and the couple settled in Lancaster County. Karen was active in several local churches, St. Mary’s Whitechapel, Trinity Lancaster and Grace Episcopal, as a parishioner, lay leader, educator and deacon.
Fulfilling a life-long call to the ministry, Karen was ordained as an Episcopal priest on December 14, 1994, at Washington National Cathedral. She served as rector to two Virginia parishes, St. Peter’s Church in Port Royal and Vauter’s Church in Loretto, until 2003.
In her retirement she continued ministering in a variety of ways. She helped establish and led grief groups for many years at The Bay Center for Spiritual Development. She was one of the first members of Interracial Conversations of the Northern Neck, an interfaith prayer and advocacy group. She was interested in feminist theology, a fierce proponent of inclusive language, and a strong advocate for combating racism and upholding LGBTQ+ rights.
She fostered community wherever she lived and loved connecting with new people. Her life and ministry were characterized by careful listening, inclusion, deep reflection and being open to the unexpected.
Karen is survived by her daughters, Angela (Luis) and Stephanie (Chris); her four stepchildren, Katharine, Rachel, David and Sarah; seven grandchildren, Erica, Daniel, David, Bill, Casey, Sofia and Elena; and her sister, Ann.
She will be lovingly remembered by the many friends and community members whose lives she touched with her legacy of service and care.
In addition to a memorial service at Riderwood, Silver Spring, Maryland, there will be a burial service at St. Mary’s Whitechapel in Lively, on Saturday, August 8.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor Karen’s memory are invited to donate to Episcopal Relief and Development, www.episcopalrelief.org, or The Bay Center for Spiritual Development, www.thebaycenter.org.
