Karen Willis, passed away on April 28, 2023, in Norfolk General Hospital from complications resulting from a car accident. Karen was a Corolla resident. Born on December 26, 1955, Karen was the daughter of Gayle (Kane) Grinstead and VADM Eugene A. Grinstead, both North Carolina natives.
Karen is survived by her husband, Jim Willis, and her two cats, Norman and Cheetah. She is also survived by siblings Kathy Lederer, Mark Grinstead, Robert Grinstead, Michele Arkwright and John Grinstead, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Andrew Grinstead, Kurt Grinstead and Mathew Grinstead.
Karen was a dedicated wife and deeply loved her family (and her cats!). She was a nature and travel enthusiast and spent many years as an avid SCUBA diver. She was also a world traveler. She lived in France for nearly a decade, and traveled widely throughout the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and the United States. She spent many years as the primary caregiver for her mother, and for her brother Mathew, for which her family will be forever grateful.
Charity was an important part of Karen’s life, and she donated generously to local, national and international causes, including by creating a scholarship in her mother’s name here in the outer banks. Her legacy will continue through the Karen Willis Memorial Scholarship established through the Outer Banks Community Foundation.
She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
Services will be held in Northern Virginia and will be announced at a later date.