Obituary for Dr. Karen Roessler Gray Karen Roessler Gray died on December 9, 2018, at age 77. Karen attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, in 1963. She earned an MA in Classics and, as a University Fellow, her PhD in Humanities with specialization in classical languages, literature, and civilization from Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, in 1974.
Her dissertation involved water imagery in Vergil’s Aeneid. She was an adjunct faculty member at Tompkins-Cortland Community College in Cortland, New York, from 1969-1970. From 1971 to 1986 she was lecturer in English at Indiana University Southeast (IUS), New Albany, Indiana, where she taught courses in English composition; classical literature; detective, mystery and horror literature; as well as Greek literature in translation.
She received the outstanding part-time faculty award from IUS in 1979. From 1981 to 2007 she taught at the University of Louisville in the Department of Humanities where she regaled her students in popular courses in Greek mythology and ancient Greek and Roman cultures. In 1996, she added to her lecture courses the job of undergraduate advisor in Humanities.
She received the Provost’s Academic Advising Award in 2004. She published articles on John H. Whallen, theatre entrepreneur and Democratic politician in Louisville in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Karen was born in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Ralph H. and Kathryn T. Roessler.
She moved to Westfield, Indiana, to be with her grandparents, Harry and Ruth Talbert while her father was in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, the family moved to Indianapolis where Karen grew up and attended North Central High School where she loved singing in the choir. Karen is survived by her husband of fifty-four years Robert D. Gray; daughter Robin G. Carroll; son Michael R. Gray; son-in-law Chuck Carroll; brother Richard T. Roessler; sisters-in-law Janet W. Roessler and Mary E. Kimmel; brothers-in-law Jerry L. Gray and Bradley D. Kimmel; and by grandchildren Shelby K. Carroll Murphy (Nick), Andrew J. Carroll, and Melanie R. Carroll.
Visitation will take place on Thursday, December 20, at Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home, 3711 Lexington Rd. with interment at Cave Hill Cemetery in a private ceremony. Memorial donations may be designated in honor of Dr. Karen Gray – Humanities Department and sent to Denise Bohn, Sr. Director of Development – Arts and Sciences, 2323 S. Brook St. Suite #103G, Louisville, KY 40208.
“One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood”. Lucius Annaeus Seneca, 5 BC-65 AD. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dr. Karen Roessler Gray please visit our Sympathy Store.
Upcoming Events Memorial Visitation , DEC 20. 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home St Matthews 3711 Lexington Rd. Louisville, KY, US, 40207 admin@rattermans.com rattermanbrothers.com Order Flowers for the Memorial Visitation Guaranteed delivery before Karen’s Memorial Visitation begins.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
