Allen C. Basala

Allen C. Basala, 75, of Cary, NC, passed away on March 10, 2022 after a bravely fought battle with cancer for over 3 years. He will be missed by his friends and family who enjoyed his sense of humor, incredible stories, exceptional memory, and his enthusiasm for wildlife conservationism.

Allen was born on July 26, 1946 to Alex and Bessie Marie Basala in Berwick, Pennsylvania. Before graduating from high school he received the highest achievement in the Boy Scouts of America, the Eagle Scout Award. In high school and college he played rhythm & blues on his electric keyboard for “The Key Tones” and “Something Soul” and even backed up the Isley Brothers. Allen graduated from St. Charles High School in 1964. He went on to receive his Masters in Honors Economics at Penn State University in 1968.

After graduating, Allen went to work for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Durham, NC for 37 years until retirement. He spent a period of time working for the Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C. while working at EPA. He also taught Economics at North Carolina State University for 24 years.

Allen will be remembered as an avid wildlife conservationist and educator. He was in his element for 46 years as a member of the Wake County Wildlife Club where he served as president one year. He volunteered every year for the Dixie Deer Classic in Raleigh since it began in 1981. He was a passionate volunteer for Fish, Fur & Game Rendezvous at Camp Millstone for many summers working with youth. The Wake County Wildlife Club honored Allen in 2019 by dedicating a Tree Stand Safety Area in his name. In 2020, Allen was honored for this important work by being inducted into the NC Wildlife Resources Commission’s Hall of Fame.

He appreciated being part of the Wildlife Federation where he received District Director of the Year and Hunter Educator of the Year. He also was a member of the Safari Club, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Allen thoroughly enjoyed hunting and fishing with memorable trips to Maine and Alaska with his father. He loved passing along his passion for wildlife to children and adults alike. His daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren will remember their times quietly trekking through the woods, sitting in a frigid duck blind, or fishing at a lake because there wasn’t an animal track, bird, tree, or fish he couldn’t identify.

Allen was predeceased by his parents Alex and Bessie Marie Basala, in-laws Charles B. and Annie Pearl Cooke, a niece Christina Georgiou, and a brother-in-law Bill Cooke. He is survived by his wife Joan of 50 years this October and his daughters Angie Moore and her husband Kevin, Allison Prescott and her husband Derick, seven grandchildren Christian, Kylie, Keller, Jakin, Haven, Nia, and Levy, his sisters and brothers-in-law Dianne and Gary Berlin, Brenda and Col. William X. Spencer, sisters-in-law Gail Cooke and Jean Cooke and her husband Ed, along with nieces, nephews, and many cousins.

Visitation will be at All Saints Orthodox Church at 520 Buck Jones Road, Raleigh, NC 27606 on Sunday, March 13, 2022, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm where he was a committed parishioner for 29 years. The funeral service will also take place at All Saints Orthodox Church on Monday, March 14, 2022 at 11:00am. A graveside service will take place that same day in the afternoon at 3:00pm at Saint Basil Cemetery at 4601 Blue Clay Road, Castle Hayne, NC 28429.

Allen’s life motto: “Taking hold of something worth doing and sticking to it and never worrying about who gets the praise” 2/10/22

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wake County Wildlife Club Foundation at PO Box 6058, Raleigh, NC 27628.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BrownWynneCary.com for the Basala family.