Family and friends will gather on Oct. 6 at Grace Resurrection Methodist Church to honor the memory of Dr. Eric Booth Karlen, an East Cobb resident since 1993, who passed away last week. His son Tyler passed along the photos and following remembrance, with the younger photo at the bottom being taken in high school:
Dr. Eric Booth Karlen, born January 11, 1946, in White Plains, NY, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2023, at his home in Marietta, GA, surrounded by his family.
Eric is survived by his beloved wife of 39 years, Mary “Dee” Grape Karlen; his son, Tyler Booth Karlen (Emily); his daughter, Ashley Karlen Lynch (Ryan); his brother, Sven Bernhard Karlen Jr.; his sister, Kristen Karlen Davenport; and three wonderful grandchildren – Cole Booth Karlen, Charles Ashton Karlen, and Beckett Lee Lynch.
Raised in Bronxville, NY, Eric cherished many fond memories with family at the Bronxville Field Club and at his grandfather’s Hillandale Farm in nearby Brooklyn, CT. His father Sven was the CFO of CBS, and his mother was a well-known realtor. In high school, he played varsity football, basketball, and baseball and served as President of the Student Council. Eric also won the highly distinguished American Field Service scholarship to study abroad in Melbourne, Australia as a junior.
Eric completed a BA in Psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1968, an MA in Education with a specialty in Rehabilitation Counseling from Columbia University in 1972, and a Doctor of Medicine from Temple University in 1980. In between degrees, Eric also served in the Peace Corps in La Paz, Bolivia.
In 1983, Eric moved to Fairfield, CT, joining the pediatric practice, Kueffner & Scholan. He married the love of his life, Dee, in 1984, and they welcomed their son, Tyler, and daughter, Ashley, soon after. The family relocated to Atlanta in 1993 and Eric became a partner at East Cobb Pediatrics where he lovingly served hundreds of families until his retirement in 2015.
A devout member of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, Eric found great joy in singing in the church choir and the Kingsmen men’s ensemble. He also loved to golf and garden. More than anything, Eric was a beloved father, husband, and friend, who always offered a listening ear, wise counsel, and an abundance of love and encouragement.
He was predeceased by his parents, Sven Bernhard Karlen Sr. and Catherine “Tommy” Booth Karlen; his brother, Mark Henry Karlen; his nephew, Matthew Hamilton Grape; his niece, Caroline Oldham Grape; his grandson, Camden Lee Lynch; and several aunts and uncles.
Eric was also the proud great great grandson of General William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army, an organization close to the hearts of his family. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to The Salvation Army or the Alzheimer’s Association.
A memorial service in celebration of Eric’s life will be held at Grace Resurrection Methodist Church on Friday, October 6th at 3pm. The church is located at 1200 Indian Hills Pkwy NE, Marietta, GA 30068 and the service is open to the public.
The Karlen family would like to express their deep gratitude for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support in this challenging time. To keep Eric’s memory alive, they invite everyone to share their cherished memories, photos, and condolences on his memorial site at www.everloved.com/life-of/eric-karlen.
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