Col. Karen A Folsom, 81 of Fairview, Texas "flew west" on May 5, 2025.
Karen was born in Ft Leavenworth, Kansas to Walter and Minnie Smith, her father a retired Army Master Sergeant. She graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1962 where she was a cheerleader. Karen applied for nurses training at St. Luke Hospital Nursing School in Kansas City and was given a scholarship with room and board. She graduated in 1965 and was hired by St Luke where she worked for 30 years. Karen went on to become Director of Dialysis and later Director of Home Health Service, retiring in 1995 after many years of dedicated service.
A year after becoming a nurse Karen decided to follow her dad and brothers and join the military. She drove out to Richard's- Gebaur AFB just south of KC and was commissioned as 2nd lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve in 1966 and became a flight nurse. Karen worked full time as a civilian nurse and part time flight nurse for the next 29 years. She also volunteered for mission to fly wounded soldiers being evacuated out of Vietnam back to the states. Seeing a cute little blond with a perky personality must have been a nice change for the boy's heading home. Karen progressed in the military as well as her civilian job and worked her way up to Aeromed Squadron Commander after being promoted to Lt. Colonel. In January 1991, her unit along with All the Reserve and Guard medical units were called to active duty for operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf and deployed overseas. Following active duty, Karen served on Command Staff at 4th Air Force Headquarters in California where she was promoted to Colonel. Karen retired from the service as the Commander of Reserve Medical Group Scott AFB Illinois in December 2000.
In 1986, Karen married Jim Folsom a Trans World Airlines Pilot (marry me and fly free) and a Reserve C-130 pilot the perfect match. They made their home for the next 33 years in a golf and lake community in Lake Quivira, Kansas. They lived their “bucket list" traveled the world enjoying what life had to offer. Starting the year, they married they took the big white house on Clarissa Avenue, St. Catalina Island for a week every 3rd week of July for the next 29 years with the same six couples. Karen was a tireless civic volunteer usually ending up president. Lifetime member and first female Vice President of the Reserve Officer Association, she was invited to the Oval Office to meet President Ronald Reagan. He got a kick out of her nickname/call sign "Cat Ballou". Karen and her mother took flying lessons, received their private license and became life members of the 99' International Women's Flying Organization. All this and a loving caring wife, stepmom and grandma.
She was preceded by her older brother, Thad and stepdaughter, Jann Treva. Karen is survived by her husband, Jim, stepdaughters, Lori and Wendi, four grandchildren, four great grandchildren, her twin brother, Tom and wonderful nieces and nephew.
In 2019, she and Jim moved to Heritage Ranch in Fairview, Texas to be near their daughters and enjoy the Texas life, making new friends and neighbors. A life well played.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday, June 20,2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Heritage Ranch Clubhouse, 465 Scenic Ranch Circle, Fairview, Texas 75069.
Karen will later be inurned at the Folsom family plot in Oklahoma. Time to be determined.