Karen L. Baird-Welch, 73, of Arkansas City, left her Earthly body to boldly go onto that final frontier to be with our Lord and Savior. Memorial Services are scheduled for March 14, 10:30 am at the First Baptist Church in Arkansas City. Pastor Dave Stanley will officiate. The spreading of her ashes will happen later with her family.
Karen was born March 31, 1949, to Robert "Bob" & Sarah (Morgan) Justice in Arkansas City. She was raised & educated in Arkansas City and she was a proud member of the Class of 1967. She later attended Cowley College & earned two associate degrees. She volunteered as a reserve dispatcher for the Arkansas City Police Department soon after graduating high school. She would volunteer to work evenings to allow other dispatchers to be able to spend time with their families. Karen transitioned from a reserve dispatcher to full-time in 1978. Her voice was one many people heard over the phone & police radio in the evenings. She loved working as a police dispatcher, directing emergency services and training new dispatchers/officers. In 2003, she was recognized as the Non-Sworn Employee of the Year from the ACPD. After almost 30 years, she retired but continued to serve the citizens of Arkansas City as a City Commissioner & Mayor.
Karen met William "Bill" Baird while at the police department, they married June 26, 1970, he later passed away in 2010. They had two children, Patrick Baird, and Brooke Istas. She went on to discover the love of her life in a long time childhood friend, Gary Welch. The two were married April 11, 2015. She was an avid bowler and Star Trek fan. She was a member of the Central Christian Church and a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority.
Survivors include: husband, Gary Welch; son, Patrick Baird; daughter, Brooke Istas and husband, Rob Istas; grand-son, Ethan Istas; mother, Sarah Justice; brother, Terry Justice; Step-daughters, Shelley Martin and husband, Dale Martin; Deanna Nelson and husband, Jason Nelson and Kim Bay and husband, Josh Bay; step-grandchildren, Caleb Martin, Kalyn Martin, Franki Martin, Dailey Martin, Myley Martin, Dale Martin, Treylen Martin, Kyley Nelson, Jacob Nelson, Rustin Nelson, Kaycie Bay and Logan Bay; Step-great-grandparents Eli, Caleb, Lyla, Kannyn, and Krayden; and her furry companion, Sandy.
Karen was preceded in death by father, Robert Justice, and husband, Bill Baird.
A memorial has been established for a memorial plaque that will be hung in the Arkansas City Police Department in Karen's honor.
Arrangements will be handled by Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home and Crematory. Contributions can be made through the funeral home and online at www.rindt-erdman.com
Karen was born March 31, 1949, to Robert "Bob" & Sarah (Morgan) Justice in Arkansas City. She was raised & educated in Arkansas City and she was a proud member of the Class of 1967. She later attended Cowley College & earned two associate degrees. She volunteered as a reserve dispatcher for the Arkansas City Police Department soon after graduating high school. She would volunteer to work evenings to allow other dispatchers to be able to spend time with their families. Karen transitioned from a reserve dispatcher to full-time in 1978. Her voice was one many people heard over the phone & police radio in the evenings. She loved working as a police dispatcher, directing emergency services and training new dispatchers/officers. In 2003, she was recognized as the Non-Sworn Employee of the Year from the ACPD. After almost 30 years, she retired but continued to serve the citizens of Arkansas City as a City Commissioner & Mayor.
Karen met William "Bill" Baird while at the police department, they married June 26, 1970, he later passed away in 2010. They had two children, Patrick Baird, and Brooke Istas. She went on to discover the love of her life in a long time childhood friend, Gary Welch. The two were married April 11, 2015. She was an avid bowler and Star Trek fan. She was a member of the Central Christian Church and a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority.
Survivors include: husband, Gary Welch; son, Patrick Baird; daughter, Brooke Istas and husband, Rob Istas; grand-son, Ethan Istas; mother, Sarah Justice; brother, Terry Justice; Step-daughters, Shelley Martin and husband, Dale Martin; Deanna Nelson and husband, Jason Nelson and Kim Bay and husband, Josh Bay; step-grandchildren, Caleb Martin, Kalyn Martin, Franki Martin, Dailey Martin, Myley Martin, Dale Martin, Treylen Martin, Kyley Nelson, Jacob Nelson, Rustin Nelson, Kaycie Bay and Logan Bay; Step-great-grandparents Eli, Caleb, Lyla, Kannyn, and Krayden; and her furry companion, Sandy.
Karen was preceded in death by father, Robert Justice, and husband, Bill Baird.
A memorial has been established for a memorial plaque that will be hung in the Arkansas City Police Department in Karen's honor.
Arrangements will be handled by Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home and Crematory. Contributions can be made through the funeral home and online at www.rindt-erdman.com
Karen L. Baird-Welch, 73, of Arkansas City, left her Earthly body to boldly go onto that final frontier to be with our Lord and Savior. Memorial Services are scheduled for March 14, 10:30 am at the First Baptist Church in Arkansas City. Pastor Dave Stanley will officiate. The spreading of her ashes will happen later with her family.
Karen was born March 31, 1949, to Robert "Bob" & Sarah (Morgan) Justice in Arkansas City. She was raised & educated in Arkansas City and she was a proud member of the Class of 1967. She later attended Cowley College & earned two associate degrees. She volunteered as a reserve dispatcher for the Arkansas City Police Department soon after graduating high school. She would volunteer to work evenings to allow other dispatchers to be able to spend time with their families. Karen transitioned from a reserve dispatcher to full-time in 1978. Her voice was one many people heard over the phone & police radio in the evenings. She loved working as a police dispatcher, directing emergency services and training new dispatchers/officers. In 2003, she was recognized as the Non-Sworn Employee of the Year from the ACPD. After almost 30 years, she retired but continued to serve the citizens of Arkansas City as a City Commissioner & Mayor.
Karen met William "Bill" Baird while at the police department, they married June 26, 1970, he later passed away in 2010. They had two children, Patrick Baird, and Brooke Istas. She went on to discover the love of her life in a long time childhood friend, Gary Welch. The two were married April 11, 2015. She was an avid bowler and Star Trek fan. She was a member of the Central Christian Church and a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority.
Survivors include: husband, Gary Welch; son, Patrick Baird; daughter, Brooke Istas and husband, Rob Istas; grand-son, Ethan Istas; mother, Sarah Justice; brother, Terry Justice; Step-daughters, Shelley Martin and husband, Dale Martin; Deanna Nelson and husband, Jason Nelson and Kim Bay and husband, Josh Bay; step-grandchildren, Caleb Martin, Kalyn Martin, Franki Martin, Dailey Martin, Myley Martin, Dale Martin, Treylen Martin, Kyley Nelson, Jacob Nelson, Rustin Nelson, Kaycie Bay and Logan Bay; Step-great-grandparents Eli, Caleb, Lyla, Kannyn, and Krayden; and her furry companion, Sandy.
Karen was preceded in death by father, Robert Justice, and husband, Bill Baird.
A memorial has been established for a memorial plaque that will be hung in the Arkansas City Police Department in Karen's honor.
Arrangements will be handled by Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home and Crematory. Contributions can be made through the funeral home and online at www.rindt-erdman.com
Karen was born March 31, 1949, to Robert "Bob" & Sarah (Morgan) Justice in Arkansas City. She was raised & educated in Arkansas City and she was a proud member of the Class of 1967. She later attended Cowley College & earned two associate degrees. She volunteered as a reserve dispatcher for the Arkansas City Police Department soon after graduating high school. She would volunteer to work evenings to allow other dispatchers to be able to spend time with their families. Karen transitioned from a reserve dispatcher to full-time in 1978. Her voice was one many people heard over the phone & police radio in the evenings. She loved working as a police dispatcher, directing emergency services and training new dispatchers/officers. In 2003, she was recognized as the Non-Sworn Employee of the Year from the ACPD. After almost 30 years, she retired but continued to serve the citizens of Arkansas City as a City Commissioner & Mayor.
Karen met William "Bill" Baird while at the police department, they married June 26, 1970, he later passed away in 2010. They had two children, Patrick Baird, and Brooke Istas. She went on to discover the love of her life in a long time childhood friend, Gary Welch. The two were married April 11, 2015. She was an avid bowler and Star Trek fan. She was a member of the Central Christian Church and a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority.
Survivors include: husband, Gary Welch; son, Patrick Baird; daughter, Brooke Istas and husband, Rob Istas; grand-son, Ethan Istas; mother, Sarah Justice; brother, Terry Justice; Step-daughters, Shelley Martin and husband, Dale Martin; Deanna Nelson and husband, Jason Nelson and Kim Bay and husband, Josh Bay; step-grandchildren, Caleb Martin, Kalyn Martin, Franki Martin, Dailey Martin, Myley Martin, Dale Martin, Treylen Martin, Kyley Nelson, Jacob Nelson, Rustin Nelson, Kaycie Bay and Logan Bay; Step-great-grandparents Eli, Caleb, Lyla, Kannyn, and Krayden; and her furry companion, Sandy.
Karen was preceded in death by father, Robert Justice, and husband, Bill Baird.
A memorial has been established for a memorial plaque that will be hung in the Arkansas City Police Department in Karen's honor.
Arrangements will be handled by Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home and Crematory. Contributions can be made through the funeral home and online at www.rindt-erdman.com
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