Former Child Star Karen Oberdiear ("The Texas Wheelers") Killed in Plane Crash - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 03-24-2009, 04:38 PM

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An Orange County woman who worked in San Juan Capistrano and died in a small-plane crash Friday night had worked as a child actor with Mark Hamill and Gary Busey on a TV series in the 1970s.

At age 12, Karen Oberdiear played Boo Wheeler on "The Texas Wheelers," according to family friends and the Web site Tvobscurities.com. The series aired at 9:30 Friday nights in fall 1974 but lasted only four episodes before being pulled from ABC's prime-time lineup.

At the time, Hamill described Oberdiear in a story in Tiger Beat magazine.

"She's full of life and always happy," Hamill said. "It cheers me up just to be around her."

Oberdiear also guest-starred on "Gunsmoke" in 1975, playing Sallie Harker in the episode titled "The Fires of Ignorance," according to TV.com.

Oberdiear, 46, was born Sept. 6, 1962, and grew up in the Westchester region of Los Angeles, near Los Angeles International Airport, according to her Facebook page. She attended Westchester High School from 1976 to 1980, according to Classmates.com. Her father was an engineer, according to the Tiger Beat story.

Oberdiear was a self-employed accountant for 18 years, her Facebook page says. She was a member of the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce and worked from an office on Rancho Viejo Road in San Juan, according to the Chamber of Commerce Web site.

A friend, Craig Hall, wrote on her Facebook page that she is survived by her mother, Vicki, and brother, Stephen.

Family members could not immediately be reached for comment today.

The Facebook page shows that a few months ago, friend Cheryl Wood invited Oberdiear on a ski trip.

"Karen, each moment you engaged so fully and never held back," Wood wrote. "What energy, what faith that tomorrow would hold yet another adventure. Always that 'can-do' attitude. I hope to carry that image of you forward into each day to honor your enthusiastic approach to life. I love you, miss you, and cannot yet believe you are hearing this from heaven. God bless."

Oberdiear died Friday night when the Piper Cherokee she was riding in crashed in a Corona reservoir. The pilot, William Randy Morgan, 50, of Trabuco Canyon, also died.

Scoobiedoo30 · 03-24-2009, 04:45 PM

Rest in Peace

dakert · 03-24-2009, 10:14 PM

I would definitely stay off of planes for a while! RIP

browneyes106 · 03-24-2009, 11:31 PM

RIP Karen

Mr. Television · 03-25-2009, 12:15 AM

R.I.P. Karen.

catlover79 · 03-25-2009, 12:18 AM

comedyfreak · 03-25-2009, 04:27 AM

How sad, RIP Karen. I remember The Texas Wheelers, there was so much on at that time, it should have been given a chance to catch on.

03-24-2009, 04:38 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,416	Former Child Star Karen Oberdiear ("The Texas Wheelers") Killed in Plane Crash Link An Orange County woman who worked in San Juan Capistrano and died in a small-plane crash Friday night had worked as a child actor with Mark Hamill and Gary Busey on a TV series in the 1970s. At age 12, Karen Oberdiear played Boo Wheeler on "The Texas Wheelers," according to family friends and the Web site Tvobscurities.com. The series aired at 9:30 Friday nights in fall 1974 but lasted only four episodes before being pulled from ABC's prime-time lineup. At the time, Hamill described Oberdiear in a story in Tiger Beat magazine. "She's full of life and always happy," Hamill said. "It cheers me up just to be around her." Oberdiear also guest-starred on "Gunsmoke" in 1975, playing Sallie Harker in the episode titled "The Fires of Ignorance," according to TV.com. Oberdiear, 46, was born Sept. 6, 1962, and grew up in the Westchester region of Los Angeles, near Los Angeles International Airport, according to her Facebook page. She attended Westchester High School from 1976 to 1980, according to Classmates.com. Her father was an engineer, according to the Tiger Beat story. Oberdiear was a self-employed accountant for 18 years, her Facebook page says. She was a member of the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce and worked from an office on Rancho Viejo Road in San Juan, according to the Chamber of Commerce Web site. A friend, Craig Hall, wrote on her Facebook page that she is survived by her mother, Vicki, and brother, Stephen. Family members could not immediately be reached for comment today. The Facebook page shows that a few months ago, friend Cheryl Wood invited Oberdiear on a ski trip. "Karen, each moment you engaged so fully and never held back," Wood wrote. "What energy, what faith that tomorrow would hold yet another adventure. Always that 'can-do' attitude. I hope to carry that image of you forward into each day to honor your enthusiastic approach to life. I love you, miss you, and cannot yet believe you are hearing this from heaven. God bless." Oberdiear died Friday night when the Piper Cherokee she was riding in crashed in a Corona reservoir. The pilot, William Randy Morgan, 50, of Trabuco Canyon, also died.
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03-24-2009, 04:45 PM	#2
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	Rest in Peace
	__________________ Who Dat

03-25-2009, 12:15 AM	#5
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	R.I.P. Karen.
	__________________ Sonny

03-25-2009, 12:18 AM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

03-25-2009, 04:27 AM	#7
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	How sad, RIP Karen. I remember The Texas Wheelers, there was so much on at that time, it should have been given a chance to catch on.
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03-24-2009, 10:14 PM	#3
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,411	I would definitely stay off of planes for a while! RIP

03-24-2009, 11:31 PM	#4
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	RIP Karen