1926 – 2014. Karen A. Peterson of Tryon died July 7 in Spartanburg after a brief illness, having spent several good days with her sons.
Karen met her husband, Robert M. Peterson, in 1946 when she was a nursing student and Bob, who had contracted tuberculosis after returning from the war in the South Pacific, was a patient of hers. They married in December 1951 and had twin boys, Richard and David, the following September. After five more children were stillborn, she finally gave birth to their third son, James, in 1961.
They lived in Cheshire and Wallingford, CT, from 1952 – 1983.
Karen retired to Landrum in 1983 with her husband Bob. They were active members of the Tryon Congregational Church, where Karen attended the Women’s Bible Study and participated in many church activities.
With her love for others, generous heart, and warm personality, she blessed and was blessed by her adopted community; she has been called a Southern lady who happened to be born in Connecticut.
Having worked many years as a Registered Nurse in nursing homes, Karen put her nursing skills and compassion to use in service to others in the Tryon area. Since Bob’s death in 2003, White Oak of Tryon has provided an ideal place for her to make friends and be a blessing to them. She loved to quilt, making many beautiful wall hangings. She was a member of Landrum Quilters, and Secretary of Colonial Dames XVII Century.
Karen is survived by her sons Richard M. Peterson, married to Jo, of East Windsor, N.J.; David A. Peterson, married to Virginia, of Rochester, N.Y.; and James B. Peterson of Dresden, Maine.
She is also survived by three grandchildren: Timothy, Susan and Daniel, of Rochester, N.Y.; her sister, Janet Larsen of Hamden, Conn.; and six nephews and nieces.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 12 at the Tryon Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chop Point School, 425 Chop Point Road, Woolwich, Maine 04579.
An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com

– McFarland Funeral Chapel
Tryon, NC