Karen Louise Hinkle

Karen Louise Hinkle, 83, of Clarksburg, WV, passed away on Friday, June 26, 2026, at J. W. Ruby Memorial Hospital.

Visitation will be held at Poling St. Clair Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., and the funeral service starting at 3 p.m. with Pastor Greg Miller and Dr. Joy Butcher-Winfree officiating. Burial will follow at Lanham Cemetery in Queens, WV.

Karen was born in Buckhannon, WV, to Okey and Buena Oldaker on December 28, 1942. She graduated from Buckhannon Upshur High School in 1960. She was employed at G.C. Murphy’s in Buckhannon until moving to Clarksburg in 1965, where she was a homemaker.

Karen is survived by her husband, Virgil Gail “Red” Hinkle, Clarksburg, WV, whom she wed on May 8, 1965, and recently celebrated the significant milestone of 61 years of marriage. Also surviving are two daughters, Kelly (Stephen) Fox of Good Hope, WV; Karla (Michael) Sloan of Worthington, WV; four grandchildren, Cory Fox (Olivia Rush) of Bridgeport, WV; Alyssa (Nate) Sloan-Oliverio, Fairmont, WV; Cassidy Fox, West Milford, WV; and Ethan Sloan, Worthington, WV, who will miss their “Mawmaw” tremendously. She was eagerly awaiting the arrival of her first great-grandchild, a little girl, June Lilly Rush-Fox.

She is survived by two brothers, Robert Oldaker (Betty) of Rock Cave, WV, and Thomas Oldaker (Angie) of Buckhannon, WV. She is preceded in death by her parents, Okey and Buena Oldaker; in-laws, Virgile Law and Addie Hinkle; sister and brother-in-law, Willard and Wanda Miller; brother and sister-in-law, Reed and Rosalee Oldaker; sister-in-law, Shirley Oldaker; and niece, Roberta Oldaker.

She will also be missed greatly by several nieces and nephews, and the Williams family, her next-door neighbors of 53 years. She never knew a stranger and was friendly to everyone. She will be remembered as a role model for being a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother. If you knew her, you loved her.

She never missed an event that her daughters were involved in. She was a 4-H leader and 4-H All Star, Girl Scout leader, and band parent, serving as the treasurer for the South Harrison High School Band Boosters for 8 years, and the go-to parent if you needed a safety pin or band aid.

She was a parent volunteer at West Milford Elementary School for 32 years, starting when her youngest daughter was in fifth grade and ending in the fall of 2019. Under the Friday Night Lights, she sold shirts at the South Harrison football games for years with dear friend, Mary Jean Bunch.

This loss is not only felt by the family, but by the entire community. She was a fighter and cancer survivor, beating both thyroid and breast cancer. She enjoyed selling Avon for 23 years, often achieving President’s Club for sales.

Always ready for a game of bingo, or taking chances on basket raffles and 50/50 drawings, she was lucky! It was often said, “If Karen Hinkle bought a ticket or was playing, then just take my money as a donation, because she is going to win!”

She loved her weekly visits to the hairdresser, shopping for bargains for family and extended family, eating out, camping at the West Virginia State Fair with her brothers, attending high school reunions, QVC, Hallmark ornaments, Kohl’s cash, and visiting with everyone. She was a member of the West Milford United Methodist Church for over 45 years.

Karen was the biggest cheerleader for her grandchildren and never missed a game or performance of soccer, baseball, football, softball, basketball, show choir, or band.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to Meals in Motion, 419 ½ Ohio Avenue, Nutter Fort, WV 26301; West Milford United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 28, West Milford, WV 26451; or Wings of Hope, 327 Medical Park Drive, Bridgeport, WV 26330.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the nurse and medical staff at UHC and J. W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, UHC UTCC, WVU Medicine Home Health, Dr. Dominic Woofter and office staff, and a recent caregiver, Kasi Pownell. There were so many people praying for her and those prayers were felt through the compassion of these caregivers over the years.

We will miss her terribly. We wonder how we can go on without her, but her legacy continues on. We take comfort in knowing she is at peace, resting in the arms of Jesus. Her children rise up and call her blessed.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.