Robert Allen

Robert Allen, formerly of Manchester, Georgia, passed away on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at the Columbus Hospice House. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2011, 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, with Reverend Mark Carter officiating. Interment will follow at Parkhill Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be the nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be the Friendship Sunday School Class and Supertimers of Midland United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, December 2, 2011, from 5-7 p.m.

Born in Talbot County, Georgia on May 14, 1924 to the late Hamilton Bryant Allen and Annie Thomas Kellum Allen. He graduated from Woodland High School in 1941, where he was a star basketball player. Drafted into the Army on his 19th birthday and discharged on December 13, 1945. As a proud veteran of World War II he served his country as a Technician in the 627th Engineer Light Equipment Company. Robert earned three Bronze Battle Stars; Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe (Battle of the Bulge), EAMET Ribbon, World War II Victory Ribbon, American Campaign Ribbon, the Cross of Military Service by United Daughters of Confederacy and the Medal of Appreciation at the 2008 reunion of the 627th Engineers. For Veteran’s Day he was honored at the Hospice House with a pin and certificate for his service to his country.

After 29 years he retired from Southern Natural Gas Company of Birmingham, Alabama in Ellerslie, Georgia as Shift Engineer. After retirement he enjoyed his volunteer work at the Little White House in Warm Springs, Georgia. He was a member of Midland United Methodist Church, the Friendship Sunday School Class, and the Supertimers.

Other than his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers, Thomas H. Allen and Russell Allen; sisters, Valaria Allen and Inez Bates; and nephew, William H. Wheless, Jr.

Survived by his wife of 55 years, Gloria Owens Allen of Midland, Georgia; sisters, Nina Belle Wheless of Birmingham, Alabama, Vera Wise (Ed) of Commerce, Georgia, Ailene Mooney of Columbus; brother, Elmer “Billy” Allen of Manchester, Georgia; nieces, Beverly Buchanan (Ronnie), Charlotte Scoggins (Dan), Deborah Tanju (Murat), and Linda Wilson (Bill); nephews, Richard Russell Allen (Betsy) and Timothy Wheless; great nieces, Lori Griffith (Robert), Christie Keith (Robby), Bethany Vogt, Emily Allen, and Susan Allen; great nephews, Alan Scoggins (Carey), Timothy Tanju, Alton Tanju, Robert L. Allen, Robert Kyle Wheless, and Justin Wheless; great-great nieces, Sarah Scoggins, Anna Scoggins, Hannah Vogt, and Megan Griffith; great-great-nephews, Luke Keith, Noah Keith, and Thomas Scoggins.

Memorial donations may be made to Midland United Methodist Church, 9100 Warm Springs Road, Midland, Georgia 31820 or Columbus Hospice House at www.columbushospice.com, or 7020 Moon Road, Columbus, Georgia.