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Text Box: Member in the Spotlight, Karen Bosley (Written by Paul Caron) This month we feature NARFE member Karen Bosley. Karen was born and raised a few years ago in West Virginia. Like many of us, she soon left her home state and ended up spending over 30 years in the great state of Maryland. Karen and her husband James have been married 44 years this June. Karen informed me, with much pride, that she has three children and four grandchildren (two of whom are twins). Her daughter and two sons live and work in the greater Maryland area. Being typical grandparents, they love seeing the grandchildren, so they visit the families two or three times a year. Her Federal career was quite interesting: Her first position was with the Federal Bureau of Investigations in 1962. She worked there as a secretary to one of the Special Agents until 1967, and interestingly enough she worked many overtime hours on the Kennedy Assassination. She then took a very important position, perhaps the most important one of her life, raising her three children from 1967 until 1980. This was a fairly long sabbatical that I’m sure paid off handsomely. In 1980 she then returned to the Federal workforce at Fort Meade's Department of Pathology until 1986. In 1986, Karen was transferred to the Department of Psychiatry, Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. where she remained as an Admin Assistant. Karen also returned to Anne Arundel Community College for her Associates of Arts Degree in 1986. All good things come to an end so in 1999 Karen called it quits and retired from Federal Service. To our benefit, she and her husband moved to Venice and she became an active member of the NARFE Englewood/Venice Chapter 717. Karen said she enjoys traveling, dancing, reading, working with her computer and music. She said she takes at least two trips a year, and after probing, I found out her favorite vacation is definitely a cruise. As far as books are concerned, she doesn’t have any preference as to the type of books she reads. Computers she finds very helpful and interesting especially the Internet. During our discussion I found out why she likes dancing and music so much. It’s in her genes; her Grandfather was a Professor of Music having received his schooling at the University of Leipzig, Germany. Karen applies her music and dancing interest volunteering for the American Cancer Society. This was the first time I had ever spoken to Karen and I must say, she is a very personable and friendly individual and I enjoyed interviewing her.

Karen Bosley