Karen Elizabeth Wallace

d. May 22, 2026

Karen Elizabeth Wallace died on May 22, 2026. She is survived by her loving husband, John; daughters Stephanie and husband, David Caballero, Catania, Italy; Rachel and husband, Salvatore Colleluori, New Ringgold, PA; and Meggan and husband, Brandon McFarland, Horsham, PA; and beloved grandchildren Isaac, Isabel, James, Cassius, and Joette, who will be born in July this year.

Karen was born in Pottsville, PA in January 1957 to the late Ray H. Fleagle Jr. and the late Lillian Smith Fleagle. She was the sixth of eight children: Bill Fleagle and wife, Cheryl, Schuylkill Haven, PA; Cindy Frost and husband, Dick, Liberty, ME; Glenn Fleagle, Phuket, Thailand; Mark “Mooker” Fleagle and wife, Colleen, Schuylkill Haven, PA; the late Scott Fleagle and his wife, Barbara Bainbridge, New Ringgold, PA; Marsha “Mush” Hepler and husband, Steve, Schuylkill Haven, PA; and Tom Fleagle, Centreville, MD.

After graduating high school, Karen enrolled in nursing school at Reading Hospital and then earned her bachelor’s degree from Lebanon Valley College. She worked as a nurse in Alexandria, Virginia and then served as a missionary to deaf children in Haiti for two years. She moved home to Schuylkill Haven and, after meeting and marrying her husband, moved to Pottsville, where she lived for the rest of her life.

She served her community as a nurse for 40 years, working in the Good Samaritan Hospital’s emergency room, radiology department, and intensive care unit. She finished her career in occupational health, retiring in 2022.

A lifelong Christian, Karen was devoted to her faith and her church, the First United Methodist Church in Pottsville, where her husband is the pastor. She was a partner to her husband in his ministry at churches across Schuylkill County, including Welcome UMC in Landingville, Simpson UMC in Gordon, Salem UMC in Barry Township, and Evangelical UMC in Pottsville.

Karen lived by the motto “seldom repress a generous impulse” and touched many people’s lives. She was there to help anyone who needed a friend, a ride, a car, a place to live, or even a kidney. She loved music, and played the piano and sang in the choir at every church where she was a member. She volunteered at York Terrace every week, playing hymns on the piano and singing with residents. Her homemade strawberry jelly was renowned and won prizes at the county fair. She was an avid fan of the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies, and loved walking her dogs in Baber Cemetery every day.

The family would prefer remembrances in the form of contributions in memory of Karen to the First United Methodist Church in Pottsville or the Pottsville Area High School Marching Band - Pottsville Crimson Aides Band Boosters, 16th and Elk Avenues, Pottsville, PA, 17901.