Karen Baker Kirkup

Karen Baker Kirkup, née Karen Lois Baker, was born on December 3, 1948 in Taft, California to Phil and Lois Baker. At a young age her family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, her mother’s home town. She grew up in Cincinnati and went to Denison University in Granville, Ohio where she got a BA in education and was certified to teach Junior and Senior Highschool English. She then went to the University of Wisconsin in Madison Wisconsin and got a Masters in Educational Policy. That is where she met her husband, Benjamin Kirkup, and was married December 31, 1971.

After successfully raising two sons, Benjamin Jr. and George, Karen relocated to Melbourne, Florida with her husband and taught ESL at Florida Institute of Technology and then English at community colleges in Cocoa, Florida and Palm Bay, Florida. She also taught Middle School Sunday School classes, taught at Vacation Bible School, and worked with various church youth groups between 1976 and 2018. Her greatest interest was Bible Study and she faithfully prayed for and looked for ways to help many who were sick or suffering.

She is survived by her husband Benjamin; her sons Benjamin (Karen) and George (Colleen); their children Crisson and Elliot (Benjamin) and Naomi, Eliana, Nathanael, and Jeremiah (George); and her brother Eric.

A visitation for Karen will be held Tuesday, January 21, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Murphy Funeral Home, 1102 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, January 21, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at St Paul's Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Rd, Falls Church, VA 22043. An interment will occur Tuesday, January 21, 2025 from 2:30 PM to 2:45 PM at Oakwood Cemetery, 401 N Roosevelt St, Falls Church, VA 22044.