Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Lawler, Karla Stanek March 9, 2013
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Robert Woolfitt http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008401 February 28, 2023, 3:29 pm

Virginian-Pilot  April 11, 2013
NORFOLK - On March 9, 2013, Karla Stanek Lawler passed in Norfolk, after a month 
of declining health. She was born Karla Stanek in Milwaukee, Wis. to Edward and 
Carrie Hamata Stanek. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree 
in physical therapy. In March 1943, Karla was inducted into the U.S. Army (as an 
officer and a gentleman, as she told it) and served over three years as a physical 
therapist in overseas campaigns, including North Africa and Italy. She was 
discharged with the rank of Captain in 1946, and received a bronze star and four 
overseas service bars. In 1948, Karla married R. Palmer Lawler, native of Norfolk, 
Va. They briefly lived in Oakland, California, before moving to Norfolk in 1949. 
Palmer worked as an accountant at Batchelder and Collins, a building supply 
company, and Karla was a housewife.
Palmer passed in August 1981, and Karla lived in their home alone until June of 
2010, when she moved into an assisted living facility. During that period, she 
filled every closet and drawer with things that she loved. She was president of 
the Tidewater Council, Girl Scouts of America, in the late 70s and early 80s, and 
was called the “Nature Lady” for the work she did at the various camps. In 
addition, she served as Secretary to the Camellia Shores Civic League and helped 
maintain and guide the neighborhood she lived in and loved for over 50 years. She 
was also active in Town and Gown activities and always supported a positive 
dialogue between the City of Norfolk, Old Dominion University and the local 
military. Karla loved to square dance, as evidenced by the many dresses and 
crinolines she had, and was an avid crafter, working in just about every medium 
from cloth to clay to paint. She also enjoyed the outdoors, including surf fishing 
on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and birding. She loved to travel and her 
itineraries included Australia, the Antarctic, Costa Rica and Alaska. She was a 
charter member of Calvin Presbyterian Church.
Karla was predeceased by her parents, her husband, and two brothers, Jerry Stanek 
and Tom Stanek. Karla is survived by her brother, Edward Stanek of Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, daughter, Caroline Lawler of Kent, Ohio, son, Robert Lawler and his 
wife Karen Lawler of Gibsonville, North Carolina, four grandchildren and three 
great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 15, 2013, at Calvin 
Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations in Karla’s 
name to the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast or the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. H. 
D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Norfolk Chapel, is assisting the family. Online 
condolences may be offered to the family through hdoliver.com

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