Karen Mae Newbrough, 79, passed away peacefully on April 20, 2025, at Elison Memory Care in Parkersburg, West Virginia, with her loving family by her side. Born on December 25, 1945, in Fairmont, WV, she was the daughter of the late Carl Frederick and Sara VanGilder.
Karen was the beloved wife of Kenneth E. Newbrough, with whom she shared an incredible 61 years of marriage. Together, they built a life centered around love, family, and devotion. Karen was a proud homemaker whose passion for cooking, sewing, crafting, and decorating filled their home with warmth and joy. She also took pride in working alongside her husband to keep their yard beautiful.
Her greatest joy came from being a mother and grandmother. Karen’s love for her family was the core of who she was, and she spoke of her grandchildren often with immense pride and happiness.
Karen leaves behind her husband, Kenneth, and their three children: Tammie (Jeffery) Brooks, Vicki (Randy) Marshall, and Keith (Dana) Newbrough. She was a loving grandmother to Mallory Gomes, Logan Marshall, Haley Deskins, Mackenzie Verhoff, Samantha Newbrough, Sydney Newbrough, and Hudson Newbrough. She was also blessed with thirteen great-grandchildren who brought light into her life.
She is survived by her siblings: Carl F. (Sandi) VanGilder, Hollis (David) Morgan, Sandra (Lynn) Malone, and Martin (Linda) VanGilder. She was preceded in death by her parents and her infant sister, Carla Ann VanGilder.
Karen was a breast cancer survivor and faced the challenges of dementia in her final years with courage and grace. Her family is deeply grateful to the dedicated staff at Elison Memory Care and the compassionate nurses of Amedisys Hospice for the care and kindness they provided throughout her illness.
Funeral services will be held at Leavitt Funeral Services and Crematory, located at 403 7th Street, Parkersburg, WV. Public viewing will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with an additional hour of visitation beginning at noon on Friday, April 25. The funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Amedisys Hospice at 27855 SR-7, Marietta, Ohio 45750, or to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.
Karen will be remembered for her kind heart, her unwavering devotion to her family, and the simple, beautiful ways she made life better for everyone around her. Her love will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.
