Karen Marie Lutes, age 76, of Wilmington, DE, passed away surrounded by her family on September 28, 2026. Born in Wilmington on October 13, 1949, Karen was the daughter of the late Dorothy Marie Thomas Moore and George H. Moore Sr.
Karen was a loving and caring mother to her adopted twin sons, Tom and John. Her greatest joys were her family, going to the beach, breeding and owning dachshunds, music, chocolate, and Coca-Cola.
She worked as a social worker in Petersburg, VA, in the 1980s and raised her family in Chesterfield, VA. While there, she was very active in her sons’ lives as a band and choir mom, and she also owned, bred, and raised AKC dachshunds. A devout Catholic, she spent much of her time as an active member and volunteer of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Petersburg. In her later years, her world revolved around her sons’ families and spending time with her grandchildren.
Karen had a lifelong desire to help others. Even after becoming disabled, that caring spirit never left her, and when able, she donated regularly to St. Jude, firmly believing in their mission.
In addition to her parents, Karen was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth L. Lutes; her sister, Terry Moore; and the father of her sons, Thomas F. Grant Jr.
She is survived by her children and their spouses, John and Deb Grant and Thomas and Katie Grant; her four grandchildren, Jordyn, TJ, Ryleigh, and Oliver; and her lifelong best friend, Wanda Rasnick. She is also survived by her siblings and their spouses: Dorothy Morley and Richard Conrad; Becky and John Corrigan; Patricia and Thomas Morley; Sheila Moore; Cindy and Chuck Winchester; George Moore, Jr.; Susie Cahall; Walter and Sue Moore; and Sondra and John Thompson.
A funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 12, at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear, DE, where Karen will be laid to rest with her husband, Ken.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Karen’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://shorturl.at/mo3DaOnline condolences may be made at mccreryandharra.com
