George W. Karr

It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of George W. Karr D.D.S., F.A.E.S., B.S. He was a bright spark in this world and will be deeply missed by many.

George was born in Girard, Kansas on April 3rd, 1935, the son of Robert O. and Dorothy A (Winsler) Karr; and also called the city of Rolla, Missouri his home. He is survived by his brother, Mike Karr of Gold Canyon, Arizona, four children; Tom and Paul Karr, Kim McKinney and Cheryl Jones, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Dorothy Karr of Girard, Kansas, his wife Joyce S. Karr of Rolla, Missouri, and one granddaughter, Desiree Joy Pryer. Dr. Karr has returned to his home state in the past three years, living near his children and grandchildren at the memory unit of Meadowlark Hills retirement Community in Manhattan, Kansas. The staff and residents became his loving family in his time of convalescence.

The body will be cremated and interned on April 3rd in a hand painted china urn next to Joyce’s urn which was laid to rest 12 years ago in the Thomas Jefferson Karr family plot in Girard, Kansas.

In 1953 after earning his Eagle Scout Award, he graduated from Girard High School and enrolled at the University of Kansas where he resided with his Winsler grandparents.  Upon completion of his junior year he was accepted to attend the Western Dental College in Kansas City, MO where he met and married Joyce Schwab in 1957.  He also joined the Naval Reserves and upon graduation in 1960 was stationed in the dental department as a Lieutenant at the Barbers Point Naval Air Station in Oahu, Hawaii where he served for three years.

Upon returning stateside, he bought a dental practice in Rolla, Missouri where he worked for 33 years, serving the community as a general family dentist. Dr. Karr was a kind soul, never hesitating to throw himself into passion projects such as bringing fluoridation to the public water supply in Rolla and lobbying the state legislature to increase the allowances for dentists to treat welfare patients.

Dr. Karr made many short-term trips to perform volunteer missionary dentistry: Vichy and Clinton, MO, Jamaica, White Earth Indian Nation in Minnesota, Guatemala, Haiti, Peru, St Lucia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Togo West Africa, Philippines, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Malaita, Mexico and Canada.

He served with the Rolla Rotary Club, and was President in 1995. He was a member of the Rolla Optimists Club. While serving on the board of Deacons at Rolla Presbyterian Church in 1969, the family house was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. Many people in Rolla are gratefully remembered for ministering to the Karr family as their lives were rebuilt.

By performing exceptional root canals, Dr. Karr earned his Fellowship with the American Endodontic Society in 1976. Having never completed his Bachelor of Science Degree due to starting dental school after his Junior year at KU he did his Senior year research project at UMR and became the only dentist to ever receive a degree at the Rolla Campus.

Dr. Karr enjoyed leisure time as an amateur photographer, and also built a barn, two boats, and a school bus camper. He enjoyed raising his children on a 13 acre farm north of Rolla among various animals including horses and beefalo. The family regularly attended church and were members at First Baptist Church of Rolla, MO. Dr. and Mrs. Karr lived as an example to their family and friends to walk worthy of the high calling of Jesus Christ in their lives.

The family is grateful for the outpouring of support from all the many individuals that our Dad has touched over the years. He spent his life reaching out to touch the hurting, to bring healing to those who needed his expertise. We are asking in lieu of flowers, that donations be made in his memory to:

YWAM for Mercy Ships 800-772-7447
Donate Today (mercyships.org)
or
Miles for Smiles Mobile Unit