Karen Christine Rowley

Karen Christine Rowley passed away on Thursday, February 26, 2026, into the loving arms of her Savior, where she will be comforted with eternal peace. She was born on May 24, 1971, in Columbus, Ohio to William and Joan (Brubaker) Riggs. She is survived by her parents, stepmother Jeanette Leonhard, daughter Ava Rowley, son Michael Rowley, brother Dave Riggs (Martha) and children Leila and Tison, aunt Sharon Hendershot, and cousins Joe Smith, Glory Gillingham, Doug Smith.

Karen graduated from Batavia High School in Batavia, Illinois in 1989. While she was in school, she was active in sports and school plays. She loved anything active and excelled in roller skating, snow skiing, water skiing, dancing, swimming, and amusement park rides. Karen loved life and every thrill life had to offer.

After graduation, Karen pursued her passion for dance by becoming a professional dancer. In her early thirties, she made a career shift and went back to school to earn her dental assistant certification. Through hard work and further study, she advanced to Extended Function Dental Assistant, which allowed her to do all the tasks a dentist could do except evaluation and drilling teeth. She was quickly recognized for her exceptional skill with her various tasks and earned the respect of the dentists she worked with. She worked as an EFDA for over 24 years. Her beautiful smile, cheerful demeanor, and overall confident professional work ethic made her a favorite with all her customers and co-workers.

Karen loved the Lord and was baptized as an adult at Trinity Lutheran Church in Richmond, Virginia with her Dad and stepmother as witnesses. She encouraged many to love the Lord and was known to say she wanted them to love the Lord so they could be with her in heaven.

Family, friends, and others whose lives Karen touched are invited at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 21, 2026 to Schoedinger Northwest, 1740 Zollinger Road, Columbus, OH 43221, to celebrate Karen’s life and to reminisce and support each other. A viewing will be held at 2:00 PM followed by a celebration of life at 3:00 PM. Inurnment will be held at Union Cemetery with time and date to be announced shortly.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in the name of Karen Rowley to a charity of your choice.