Dr. Karen Lynn Dilka

Dr. Karen Lynn Dilka, 72, retired Professor from Eastern Kentucky University, passed away peacefully at her home, on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

Karen was born in Greeley, Colorado, on May 21, 1952. After earning her Bachelors and Masters from the University of Northern Colorado she went on to earn her PHD at the University of Arizona. In the late 1980’s, she relocated to Richmond where she went to work at Eastern Kentucky University where she was the heart and soul of the Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program, both graduate and undergraduate, until her retirement in 2013. Dr. Dilka was well known in the Deaf Education professional community where she served as President of the Association of College Educators of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, an international association, and served as Executive Director of the Council on the Education of the Deaf, the accreditation body for standards for teacher certification in that field of education.

She enjoyed traveling. She had an interest in visiting Presidential Libraries. In her free time, Karen loved spending time gardening, looking after her many cats, and her beloved dog Cliffy. She was a member of the United Church of Christ in Greeley.

Survivors include: her mother, Freida Rohn Dilka; one brother, Dale Dilka; her niece and nephews, Kayleen Dilka, Cole Dilka, Corey Dilka (Jessica), and Chaz Dilka; great nephews, Mason Brown, Henry Dilka, and Jack Dilka; her dog Cliffy; as well as a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Clifford Dilka.