Shirley Karp

Shirley (Levine) Karp of North Canton, Ohio, formally of New Kensington, PA, passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 98. She was a wonderful and much-loved daughter, sister, spouse, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was born in Altoona, PA, to the late Maurice and Rose Sunshine Levine. Recently, she was a resident of the Heritage Villas Assisted Living in Ohio where she was kind and friendly to everyone that helped her. Shirley graduated from Altoona High School in 1945 and Shippensburg State Teachers College in 1949. She taught Business Education at Newport High School in Pennsylvania for three years until she met her beloved husband, Harry Karp. They were married in 1952 at Agudath Achim Synagogue, Altoona, PA, for 58 years. They raised their four children in New Kensington, PA, and she helped Harry in his store, Karp's Jewelers in Tarentum, PA, where Harry was the owner and proprietor there for 46 years. She was active in the Beth Jacob Synagogue where she ran the gift shop. She loved to visit her beloved grandchildren in Ohio, Virginia, and Mt. Lebanon, PA. She also traveled to Sydney Australia, London England, and Hawaii. In her senior years, she resided at the Ridge Avenue Senior Residence in New Kensington, PA. She loved the weekly Bingo games and holiday parties as well as all the friends she made there.

All in all, a wonderful and joyous life with her innate friendliness that was shown with her smiles and laughter with everyone she encountered.

As well as her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harry Karp in 2010 and her dear son, Walter Karp in 2020.

She is survived by her devoted sons, David (Hilary) Karp of Surfside, FL and Marshall (Elaine) Karp of Massillon, OH, and her daughter, Barbara (Stephen) Taylor of Springfield, VA. She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren, Richard (Marybeth) Karp, Ryan (Brian) Hollingsworth, Aaron Karp, Nathan Taylor and Blake Taylor as well as one great-granddaughter, Chloe Hollingsworth as well as her niece, Marilyn Armon of Gainesville, VA, and her great nieces and nephews- Faye, Scott, Mark, and Jennie.

The family is full of gratitude for her friends and helpers in New Kensington, PA, Jeanne Krahe and Gail Tidwell. They are also grateful for the attention and care given by the aides and nurses to our mom at Heritage Villas as well as Heartland Hospice of Ohio.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday, January 30, 2026, at RJ Slater Funeral Home, 1000 Freeport Road, New Kensington, PA, with visitation at 11:30. Rabbi Yaier Lehrer of Adat Shalom Synagogue will officiate. Burial will be at the Beth Jacob Synagogue Cemetery, 101 Craigdell Road, New Kensington, PA, behind the Giant Eagle.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Adat Shalom Synagogue, 368 Guys Run Road, Cheswick, PA 15024.

May her memory be an eternal blessing to her family and to her friends.