Karynn L. (Westerman) Barlow

Karynn Lynn Barlow (nee Westerman), of Kent Ohio a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, teacher, and friend passed away unexpectedly on Sunday February 27th, 2022 at age 44.

LIFE

Karynn was born on July 6, 1977 in Ravenna, Ohio to Janice and Philip Westerman.  She was the second of two girls and early on developed a love for holidays, traditions, and family time together. She always loved teaching. Her first students: Barbies, Strawberry Shortcake dolls, Care Bears and Cabbage Patch dolls, all sat in classroom desks in her bedroom.  She was Cinderella in her fifth grade class musical, and loved to swim. She broke her first bone at 18 months and perfected the art over the next 42 years, and no one knows what her final count was.

She was married July 15, 2000 to her best friend and high school sweetheart, Benjamin Barlow, in Kent, Ohio after graduating from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1996 and Kent State University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Education.  Karynn was the homecoming queen in 1995 and in 1996, she went to Florida for nationals with her DECA class.

Karynn served passionately as an English teacher at Theodore Roosevelt High School for twenty-two years, where she impacted so many lives through the Expedition Academy, and her many classrooms full of students.  She also served as prom advisor for many years.  Karynn lived almost her entire life in the city she loved, although part of her heart was always in Australia with her extended family on the beach.

She loved watching baseball, softball and hockey, especially if her kids were playing, or her husband was coaching.  She loved teaching, hiking, camping and traveling, salty pretzels and twizzlers, and the beach and the sun.  Dancing with her mother-in-law and namesake Karen (Barlow) McKinney brought them both joy, and Karynn could dance with the best of them.

One of her proudest and most coveted moments was being awarded “The Hat,” the Teddy Roosevelt Hat, which was awarded by the Roosevelt Hockey players.  If you knew Roosevelt Hockey, you knew Karynn Barlow.

Karynn was a giver.  She gave of herself, of her time and of her love unreservedly.  She also loved to buy the perfect gift, and no one could match her wrapping skills.  We encourage you to remember Karynn’s giving spirit by looking for an opportunity to give a special gift to someone to brighten their day, like Karynn did every day.

FAMILY

Karynn is survived by her husband of 22 years, Benjamin Barlow; and their children, Carson and Myah of Kent; parents, Philip and Janice (Carson) Westerman of Kent; sister, Natasha Bowlds (Dan) and their children Sam, Kylie and Ben of Laurel, Maryland; sister-in-law, Heather Barlow-Sintobin (Troy) of Johnstown, Ohio , their son Hunter Barlow (Chelsea) and their daughter Eloise of Westerville, Ohio; and sister-in-law Courtney Delleg (Dietgar) and their children Luca, Alice, and Sofia of Concord, North Carolina; mother-in-law Karen (Jack) McKinney; and father-in-law Jeffrey (Christine) Barlow; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in Australia; a treasure-trove of friends too numerous to name; and Bauer the dog, her faithful companion through thick and thin.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Karynn’s life will be held 11:00 A.M. SATURDAY March 5th at Riverwood Community Chapel, 1407 Fairchild Avenue in Kent, Ohio. The service will be live streamed and can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/c/RiverwoodChapel.  A light reception for close friends and family will follow at the church. Thank you to Paul Sartarelli for officiating and to Bissler & Sons Funeral Home for organizing the services.  Please contact Bissler & Sons for more information. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift to an organization close to the Barlow family’s heart: Open Arms Adoption Inc., 11 River Street, Suite B, Kent, OH 44240 or at www.openarmsadopt.com/donate/. Thank you to the many family and friends whose outpouring of support has sustained us through this difficult time.

“Lord, be gracious to us;

we long for you.

Be our strength every morning,

our salvation in time of distress.” - Isaiah 33:2